# My Falconer - Adam Baz | Tosh Show

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYx-IV7002c
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/lYx-IV7002c
Generated: 2025-09-23T13:32:04.233+00:00

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## Quick Overview

Professional falconer Adam Baz explains the practice of falconry, detailing the training, care, legalities, and various applications of working with raptors, from hunting and pest control to educational demonstrations and film work, while guest Daniel Tosh shares his experiences at a Danish-themed ranch and his own suburban farm life.

**Key Points:**
- Falconry involves a deep understanding of bird behavior and requires a two-year apprenticeship, including trapping a wild bird using a 'balhatry trap' with a live mouse as bait.
- Raptors are trained through a combination of trust and consistent feeding, with initial training taking three weeks to three months, and their lifespan in captivity can reach 30-35 years.
- Adam Baz offers various services, including educational programs for children (around $400 for a private session), pest control for properties like hotels and shopping centers (8-12 times a month), and work in the photo and film industry.
- While not considered pets, raptors are 'working animals' that do not form affectionate bonds with their handlers, relying on them primarily for food, and owls, contrary to popular belief, are not particularly intelligent.
- The practice of falconry is rooted in hunting, requiring a hunting license and falconry license, and is regulated by the Department of Fish and Wildlife, with hunting typically occurring near areas like Joshua Tree or Bishop.
- Daniel Tosh recounts his stay at Alisol Ranch, a horse ranch with a Danish-themed town, Solvang, detailing the unique dining experience with assigned tables, attending a rodeo, and indulging in local pastries and donuts.
- The cost of purchasing a raptor from a licensed breeder ranges from $800 to $5,000, with most falling between $1,000 and $2,000.

**Context:** Daniel Tosh hosts professional falconer Adam Baz on his show, 'Tosh Show,' where they discuss falconry, the care and training of raptors, and its various applications. The conversation touches upon Adam's background in bird biology, his transition into falconry, and the legal requirements and ethical considerations involved. Interspersed with the falconry discussion are Daniel Tosh's personal anecdotes about his experiences at a Danish-themed ranch and his own farm, creating a blend of professional insight and personal reflection.

## Detailed Analysis

In this episode of 'Tosh Show,' Daniel Tosh interviews professional falconer Adam Baz, who details the demanding yet rewarding profession of working with birds of prey. Adam explains that falconry is fundamentally a hunting sport, requiring specific licenses and a two-year apprenticeship that includes trapping a wild bird using a 'balhatry trap.' He clarifies that raptors are trained through trust and consistent feeding, with initial training periods ranging from three weeks to three months, and that these birds can live significantly longer in captivity (30-35 years) than in the wild (8-12 years). Adam offers a range of services, including educational demonstrations for children, which typically cost around $400 for a private session, and pest control for commercial properties, where his birds haze pigeons and seagulls. He also works in the photo and film industry. Adam emphasizes that his birds are 'working animals,' not pets, and do not form affectionate bonds, dispelling the myth of the wise owl by stating they are not very intelligent, unlike hawks and falcons. Daniel Tosh shares his experiences at Alisol Ranch in Solvang, describing the unique dining arrangements and a rodeo event, and mentions his own farm animals, including chickens that have been preyed upon by coyotes. The conversation also covers the cost of purchasing raptors ($800-$5,000) and the specialized equipment like hoods used to calm the birds.

### Interview Highlights

- Falconry as a hunting sport
- Raptor training and lifespan
- Licensing and apprenticeship requirements
- Services offered (education, pest control, film)
- Bird-human relationship (working animals, not pets)
- Misconceptions about owls
- Cost of raptors
- Daniel Tosh's personal anecdotes (Solvang ranch, farm life)

### Falconry Basics

- Training methods (trust, food)
- Initial training duration (3 weeks - 3 months)
- Captive vs. Wild lifespan (30-35 years vs. 8-12 years)
- Hunting aspect and licensing
- Legalities and regulations
- Equipment (hoods, leashes)

### Adam Baz's Services

- Educational programs for children (private session ~$400)
- Pest control (pigeons, seagulls) for commercial properties
- Photo and film industry work
- 'Wing bearer' package for weddings

### Daniel Tosh's Experiences

- Visit to Solvang and Alisol Ranch
- Rodeo attendance
- Farm life and animal encounters (coyotes, chickens)
- Personal theories about birds

### Bird Facts & Misconceptions

- Raptor intelligence (owls vs. hawks/falcons)
- Bird behavior (pooping, stress response)
- Raptor eyesight and hunting capabilities
- Bird anatomy for high-speed dives (falcons)
- Window collisions and bird rescue