The Beginning of the IEAA 

Michael W. Kuriga

It was the early 2000’s, and thanks to a lot of work by Lance and Jill Morrow, Brian Kellogg, Jack Hubley and others like

Dan McCarron and Tony Selch, the take of goldens for falconry had opened up again. Although I found it interesting, I

really had no interest in flying a golden at first. However, about that time, I started to do some well-earned travel for falconry starting in Scotland. While attending the Scottish Hawking Club meet on the Isle of Skye, I met up with

Andrew Knowles-Brown. I also met Geoff Clayton and he, too, was flying goldens. From then on, I became enamored with these big birds. With a job that had me based in Ft. Collins, Colorado, I was able to spend a lot of time in

Jeffrey City, Wyoming with Lance and Jill and helped them out trapping and banding. I even did a little rappelling.

Realizing that I could get out to the Rockies or Plains states on a regular basis made me feel confident

enough to take a golden for myself. And this I did! Back then, riding on the work that others had

done, it only took a few weeks to secure all the permits needed, and I was headed out to Wyoming to trap that spring.

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I have to admit that it was Lance's idea that we should get a group together that were interested in flying eagles.

But he didn’t want to organize it and encouraged me to put together something. As the current President of

the Pennsylvania Falconry and Hawk Trust, I had planned several events and felt I could get something together. 

In 2003 I was heading to the Czech Republic to attend their annual falconry meet in Opocno. Having lots of time on my hands flying across the “Pond”, I outlined our Constitution and goals for an organization of eagle falconers. After attending the meet, further goals were added, including the dissemination of information on handling and flying goldens in particular, and instructions on putting together a journal and holding eagle meets. Since I had experienced eagle falconry in Scotland and witnessed some great eagle flights in the Czech Republic, I felt we should be an international organization. Being fairly new to eagle falconry I thought we would benefit greatly hearing from others who have been at it for some time. Returning home, tweaking the Constitution, and with the help of Brian Kellogg who supplied a set of By-Laws, we started a new organization. The intention was not to compete with NAFA or any other organization, but as an aid to a focused interest group.

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Thus, the “International Eagle Austringer's Association” was formed. (And calling it the IEAA: it’s the same sound that comes out of your mouth when you get footed by your eagle.) With this beginning, a list was put together and we made every effort to contact all eagle falconers or potential eagle falconers we could find. The dues were set to a minimum and plans were put into place to hold our first Gathering of Eagles. For the first GOE, we looked into North Dakota, but were informed that eagles were not allowed for falconry in that state. Lance stepped up and hosted the first GOE in Lander Wyoming.

We were on our way…