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Brad E Walker
1955 - 2021
Brad E. Walker was born on February 9, 1955 to Earl and Elcie Walker, in Afton, Wyoming. He was the third of four children and the only son. From the start Brad showed a deep love for animals and wildlife.
As a child, he had the usual dogs and cats as pets, but also had an orphaned owl, several kestrels and even a pet porcupine! Brad was often seen riding his bike around town with a bird perched on the handle bars. Not only did Brad love animals, but they seemed to love him. He had a “Dr. Doolittle” way with them. Brad grew up in Star Valley, Wyoming and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He always had a deep respect for wildlife and the beauty of the land.
In 1976, Brad married his lifelong partner, Julie. Over the next four years they welcomed a daughter, Misti, and a son, Tye, to complete their family.
In 1980, Brad’s love for falconry was re-ignited when he rescued an injured swainson’s hawk and returned it to the wild. This started his lifelong passion of falconry. Over the course of his life, Brad had kestrels, red-tails, Cooper’s hawks, merlins, a peregrine falcon, owls, and other raptors. His most successful hunter was a Harris hawk named Ziggy. Brad, Ziggy, and dogs Snickers and Sassy, became almost legendary in the Treasure Valley, Idaho falconry community. Their hunts were phenomenal and very successful! Many people came to the I.F.A. falconry meets to see them hunt and were always impressed with their victory. Ziggy, lived to the age of 31. His passing was the end of an era.
In 2003, Brad got a Peregrine/Gyr hybrid. He named him Radar, but Radar earned the nickname AWOL for his repeated escapes. Brad’s beloved German Shorthair, Dotty, along with Radar, had many successful hunting adventures.
Brad had three back surgeries over the last years of his life. His mobility became more difficult and painful. Much to his despair, Brad became less able to hunt with Radar. At the time of Brad’s passing, he still had Radar. His friend and fellow falconer, Dave Smith, has promised Radar will live the rest of his life in comfort. Radar will be 20 years old in the spring of 2023.
Falconry was Brad’s passion in life. Nothing gave him more pleasure than flying his birds, talking about them with fellow enthusiasts and teaching the public to respect them. I know that Brad’s family and friends will never see a raptor perched or soaring that they won’t think of Brad and remember...
- Julie
"My Dad"
Looking back on my life, my Dad was in nearly every memorable moment. He was my best friend all the way through my childhood; not very many people can honestly say their Dad was their best friend as a teenager. In my heart he is still my very best friend!
Dad was in every essence an outdoorsman. From big game hunting to sturgeon fishing, from Falconry to catching butterflies, he was always looking for adventure outdoors! I tagged along on as many adventures as possible. These included more hunting trips with Ziggy, Snickers and Sassy than I could possibly count. He taught me to beat the brush like one of the dogs, and eventually he taught me to be the cameraman.
Dad taught me more about life on our many hunting and fishing adventures than anyone could learn in a lifetime in some noisy city. Those lessons made me who I am, and I try to base every single thing I do on the morals and integrity he showed me throughout his life.
My Dad's legacy is one of respect for nature and of other people. His love and passion for falconry was a driving force throughout his life. He loved to teach others about raptors and how they fit into the ecosystem. I know many people were impacted by his genuine care and creative way of teaching.
Love you Dad,
- Tye
My dad was an outdoorsman. He loved hunting, fishing, camping, exploring, and observing all of God’s beauty. His passion was falconry. As long as I can remember, he always had a bird or two. He spent time raising them, feeding and flying them, perfecting their habitat, raising food to feed them, and teaching everyone about them. As the kid of a falconer, I had some of the best show and tell days! I can’t remember how many times my dad brought a bird of prey to school for me or my brother to show to our class. He loved showing them off, teaching people about them and encouraging respect for them.
Over the years, any time anyone found an injured bird, of any kind, they would call my dad or bring it to him. Everyone knew him as the “bird man”. He rescued many birds for people that shared his love and respect for them. Sometimes he “saved” sparrows just to let people think they did a good thing, even though he knew they wouldn’t make it through the night.
I have several memories of my dad rescuing birds. When I was very small, my dad and I tried to rescue some robin eggs from an abandoned nest. I ended up squeezing them too tight and we discovered they were rotten. Once, he rescued a handful of baby quail. He brought them home in a coffee mug. They looked like little cotton balls. I remember my dad putting nests with baby birds back into a tree after a wind storm. So many of my childhood memories involve my dad and the love he had for animals and nature.
Nature, but especially birds, were the essence of who my dad was. His family and friends will miss him always. The falconry community lost a valuable advocate. I believe he is doing as he always wanted… soaring with the birds.
- Misti
Donations for Brad Walker’s plaque made by: Misti Walker, Sheldon Nicole, and The Archives of Falconry Board of Directors
