
Collin is a Master-Class, licensed Falconer and is the youngest Master-Class Falconer in the state of West Virginia. He started this adventure by trapping his first Red-Tailed Hawk, Ace, from the wild when he was only 14 years old. Collin has also trained an American Kestrel for the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, PA, and is one of the youngest people in the US to train a Bald Eagle. The Bald Eagle, Mr. Spectacular, is a non-releasable bird and is used for educational programs with The West Virginia Raptor Rehabilitation Center in Fairmont, WV.
Collin was home-schooled and graduated in 2018. Right after graduation, he spent 10 months working at the Ararat Ridge Zoo located at the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, KY. Over 7 years of experience working with the WVRRC and the Ararat Ridge Zoo has allowed Collin to work with a number of different birds including some that a raptor would consider "lunch". People are often amazed at Collin's God-given talent of working seemingly effortlessly with birds. Of course, if you ask him, he will assure you that there is more to training birds than meets the eye.

Rico is a 10 yr old Red-Tailed Hawk, he is Handicapped from
being shot in the left wing when he was under a year old.

Hardy is a passage Red-Tailed Hawk, and Collin's newest hunting partner.
The Latin word for "Raptor" means "one that seizes or grabs". All birds of prey are carnivorous predators. The raptor family includes owls, hawks, kites, falcons, eagles, osprey, and vultures.
Our Birds of Prey presentations and demonstrations are an exciting and effective learning experience. It is an up-close and personal look at birds that teaches individuals of all ages the art of falconry, ecological concerns of birds of prey, environmental and conservation issues that birds of prey may face. Our goal is to create an awareness that will inspire people to appreciate and respect the world we live in, leaving a lasting impact that will leave people looking up.
Collin giving a raptor demonstration/talk at LRC BnB
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Laurel Fork Farm has U.S. Fish and Wildlife special use permits to use both live and dead migratory birds for education, which Collin makes good use of by educating everyone who wants to learn about raptors from a Creation perspective.