Anddy Medinna | wwgiaf

INTERVIEW - ANDDY MEDINA

Alessandra Oliveto WWG - Translation: Jessica Tulio - WWG

Thank you for the interview, it reminded me lots of good things.

Each one of the pics marked my life.

1- How was your first contact with falconry?

Since I was born I had contact with my dad’s birds of prey. He’s Eduardo Medina, also known as “Comando Harris” in Mexico. He practiced falconry for many years, his career is much known, and he’s an excellent falconer and professor. I had my first falcon when I was 16 years old, and at 17 I had my first Harris’s Hawk and happily I started in this art.

2- Which birds do you fly today and how old are them?

“O Wüera” is my female tundrius peregrine falcon is almost 3 years old and “Yumara” is my Harris’s Hawk, she’s almost 2 years old.

3- Which birds of prey did you already fly? Is there any bird that you would like to fly and why?

A peregrine falcon and a Harris’s. For a while I was interested to fly an Aplomado falcon, because of its courage and beautiful plumage. I was fascinated to see videos of this bird hunting, but I’m more than happy with my birds today.

4- Do you normally fly your birds every day? Which exercises do you use to maintain the bird’s muscles?

On the hunting season, I fly them every day, 3 days per week we fly them in the fields and on the other days I exercise them with verticals (Harris’s) and lure-fly (Peregrine) to build up muscles mass.

5- We’re aware that you won one championship and ended up in third place in another one this year. How old were you and how is the feeling to be the champion?

My first meeting was at the Queretaro “La Pitaya” Ranch, this tournament happens every year, it’s national and 40 falconers participates. I got 5thplace in the qualifiers, my experience was unique, because two rounds before me, I was walking back and forth preparing my equipment, “El Vago” is a great friend of my family, almost like a brother to me, he was helping me because he was going to watch me flying. My nerves were making me and my legs shake, but my dad and “El Vago” tried to calm me down “Don’t get stressed, relax”, but I couldn’t relax my nerves. When the mentioned my name to present myself to the judges, I started to walk on their direction...the public started to applaud and didn’t stop! The pressure raised, my legs were trembling and a smile appeared on my lips. It was incredibly beautiful to hear my dad screaming: Come on, daughter, you can do it!! I almost cried in happiness and that’s how we get to the flying area. I would like to clarify that the job is not only mine, we’re an excellent team, a fundamental part of our success, thanks to all of them, but specially my dad and Donaji, my sister, she is lucky charm and an excellent falcon’s observer, she knows how to tell them apart even better with binoculars…Thanks sister, if you come to read this interview, I’d like to tell you that I LOVE YOU!

Thanks for the good luck and your love!!!

In the end, El Vago and I got the prizes, and they were excellent, as usual.

The art is still growing in Mexico, but certainly the majority of falconers are in their best position to help to promote it, and that’s why the sponsors of these tournaments (most falconers) work hard to donate great prizes.

My second championship was created by my dad in February 21th, 2015, and we called it the “Torneo de la Amistad”, which happened in the Day of Friendship. In this event, for the first time in the history of the Mexican Falconry, a woman participated as a judge, Marisol Pacchiano (falconer and friend). In this tournament, I was calmer and won a tie the third place in this year, 2016.

6- Which are the techniques that you use to teach your peregrine to get to its maximum height? Kites, drones or other?

Great part of our training is to reach the higher height and make it understand that the higher the greater possibility to catch a prey, and that’s how the falcon strengthens gradually and later will go high by its own.

7- What part of the formation do you consider the most important to win a championship and to the falconry as a general?

Every part is important, we need to learn from the books and personal experiences, and train to get to the excellence. I think the most important thing is the patience.

8- In Mexico, which preys are more appropriate to the Peregrine Falcon?

Possibly, the most common are pigeons, ducks, pheasants and mourning doves in the north of Mexico.

9- We’re aware that feminine falconry is growing increasingly in Mexico. Do you girls go to the fields together?

We try to fly together as much as we can, but it’s difficult because we live in different states.

However, we’re always in touch, we have a page “Mujeres Cetreras Mexicanas” where we share pictures, stories and experiences. I have luck to live surrounded by a falconer family, Esther Corona is the mother and we look for meeting in the field, fly our falcons and talk about our “duck-adventures”

10- What was the most difficulty that you had/have to practice falconry?

None until now, but I don’t live with my dad, but we share the field.

11- The mexicans fields are famous all around the world. Tell us how a hunting day is in those fields.

When I lived with my dad, the hunting day started really early, and when the alarm clock ringed, we’d get up. While my dad was choosing the pigeons, I was in charge of weighting the birds and put them in the truck, would review the transmitters and checked if all the equipment were in good conditions. Once everything was ready and inside of the truck, we’d drive to the field and start the flights. Almost every time after the last flight, we’d be talking about what we both watched in that place. When we’d arrive at home, we’d put the birds in the perches with their tubs to cool them up. Comments and observations of a flying day helps us to improve some detail in the next training day and reinforce other details or simply maintain the quality.

Thank you Andy,

We’re really happy and grateful for your contribution. These stories change a lot the falconer’s life that wants to start practicing falconry. They give strength for people to fight for their dream.

Congratulations for your prizes, your stories just confirms that your family and Mexico is one of the cradles of falconry.