Exonian Profiles
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The idea rescuing and rehabilitating raptors is exciting enough in itself, but for Perry Knowlton ’49 it has, on occasion, been nothing short of hair raising. He tells of a recent night rescue that involved climbing up 40 feet into a tree under in the glare of hastily erected spotlights to capture an injured red tailed hawk. Frightened and lacking the capacity for gratitude, the bird grabbed the top of Knowlton’s head with its sharp, strong talons. “I was hanging from the ladder and as the bird got more and more terrified its grip got stronger. It is a good thing I have a full head of hair,” he says. That hawk and dozens of other raptors have been rehabilitated by Knowlton and his colleague Mark Westman. The pair also presents a program called Talons! to interested groups that range from the youngest scout troops to senior citizens. “People are very interested in raptors. We travel with several well-trained birds of prey from North America and around the world.” Often visitors come to Knowlton’s Crescent Hill Farm in the Catskills for demonstrations of the ancient sport of falconry and the view the animals there. Currently he has 28 birds in residence including falcons, owls and hawks. As a 10-year old camper Knowlton had his first encounter with raptors. “I spotted a osprey nest and climbed to a spot under it. When the parents flew away I took two of the babies out of the nest put them in my shirt and climbed down. I raised and trained them for the rest of the summer then set them free,’” he recalls. “I was hooked, but I didn’t really have time to pursue my interest until I retired.” Knowlton ,since leaving his position as head of the publishing house Curtis Brown in New York, has earned his license as a falconer and as a wildlife rehabilitator. Knowlton is in the process of creating the Catskill Raptor Center a not-for-profit organization that he says “is dedicated to rehabilitation, preservation and conservation of all raptor species as well as public and private education about raptors.” He envisions “a place that will provide a permanent home for disabled raptors and a center that will establish a network for other raptor and wildlife rehabilitators who are willing to care for injured birds.” It is usually family not falcons that accompany alumni/ae when they return for reunions. But this spring, when Knowlton returned for his 55th Reunion he was joined by a few birds of prey. He gave a falconry demonstration in the stadium and visited a combined ornithology and ecology class. Using his feathered companions as visual aids he discussed the natural history of the species and talked about the background of falconry with students. —Julie Quinn |
