Ornithophobia

syklops

So, I've been afraid of birds for many years now. I put this down to an incident I had with a swan when I was about 4.

I cross the street to avoid pigeons.

I was on holiday a few months back and we were at a local landmark and a woman walked passed us with a small barn owl on her wrist. She was into falconry and she was taking her owl for a 'walk'. At one point, she and her owl were a foot from me, and I wasn't freaking out. My mother keeps hens and I've had various encounters with said hens and its not been pleasant. Hens and pigeons are fairly stupid creatures with no sense of personal space and perhaps part of my fear is having them rush at me somehow and fluttering in my face.

Where as an owl in this situation, was under control and they are generally pretty smart, and I think they understand personal space better.

Why am I saying all this? Because next monday I will be doing falconry with a work outing. I'm new in the job and don't want to freak out in front of new workmates. Does anyone have any suggestions for approaching this?

Neyite

If its falconry, then the bird will likely be well trained - like the owl that you saw, a falconry often has owls as they are birds of prey too.

It could be the unpredictability of birds taking off in flight that sets you off?

syklops

Neyite wrote: »

If its falconry, then the bird will likely be well trained - like the owl that you saw, a falconry often has owls as they are birds of prey too.

It could be the unpredictability of birds taking off in flight that sets you off?

Unpredictability definitely is part of it.

tisgrand

Contrary to popular belief, owls are NOT birds of prey. Birds of prey such as hawk, eagles, buzzards etc form the order Falconiformes. Owls have evolved some similar traits in terms of talons for hunting and a carnivorous diet but are not closely related to birds of prey. However, similar care and training techniques are involved for keeping these birds in captivity...hence falconers and falconry centres often keeping owls too. Another point is, handling or flying an owl (or bird of prey for that matter) involves some falconry training techniques but this is not falconry in the true sense. Falconry is the use of a bird of prey for hunting wild quarry. It is quite rare for owls to be used in this regard. Rest assured the owls at any centre will be hand reared, tame, well socialised and quite gentle. I'm afraid they do not rate highly for intelligence as legend would have us believe, but more than make up for that with their beauty and mystique.

Fathom

syklops wrote: »

So, I've been afraid of birds for many years now. I put this down to an incident I had with a swan when I was about 4.

Saw The Birds. Old film. California coast. Scared me. Phobia must be difficult. Worse than fiction.