Mike Person

As it turned out in the late 1980’s, after many unsuccessful attempts with captive breeding, birds began to hatch. In 1992, Mike, true to his word, called Clee, “I’ve got a bird for you, want it?” Two days later a Peregrine falcon was waiting at the Denver airport. In 1995, at Mike’s request to use her as a breeder, Clee drove to Alberta, traded her for a new chick, stayed with the Person family, and learned more falconry skills. Clee said he was never able to repay Mike for the gifts of birds and knowledge.
Shortly after arriving in Alberta, Mike met John Campbell and through their common interest in falconry began an arduous 17 year journey which culminated with the legalization of the sport in 1981. In 1982, the AFA was formed. After that, the two continued to successfully lobby the government to expand the rights of falconers to include the trapping of wild raptors, flying hybrids, as well as extended hunting seasons.

After moving to Alberta the Persons never looked back. They became Canadian citizens, raised a family of one daughter and three sons—-Jeff has become a falconer and veterinarian like his dad and of their eleven grandchildren Riley has become a falconer.

Mike was the first and most experienced raptor rehabilitator in Alberta. During most of his career he became a noted small animal surgeon who specialized in orthopaedic surgery. His surgical skills saved lives of many raptors and as needed birds were rehabilitated in flight pens at the raptor facility on his acreage. Mike willingly shared his expertise with fellow falconers. He was the go to man whenever they had questions about their birds.

Mike’s 25 year captive breeding program was made possible with Linda’s support and assistance. After several years of unsuccessful breeding, the first chick “Bingo” hatched. The second chick, appropriately named “Jackpot” hatched shortly there after. They were on the way to raising numerous peregrines. Some of these birds were shipped to Spain and Japan. One Japanese falconer, Kenji, became a close correspondent and friend.

During his lifetime Mike flew nearly every kind of bird whether haggard, eyass, passage or imprint. After Mike and Linda retired in 1997, Linda began to train and fly her own birds so they could spend more time together. They spent the falls hawking in central Alberta with John Campbell Sr., Stan Marcus, Clee and Mary Sealing and others. When the ponds froze over and the ducks left, Mike continued to southern Alberta where he hawked upland game with Jonny Groves, Rick Skibsted and Steve Schwartz.

Perfection was always Mike’s goal. He said that anything worth doing was worth mastering. As one of his friends said about him: “The saying, ‘Jack of all trades, master of none did not apply to Mike—-he always mastered the things he did. When mentoring, he insisted things be done properly. He was direct and often blunt, but one learned and learned well.”
He obtained a permit from Alberta Fish and Wildlife to breed and raise timber wolves. His purpose was to study the reproductive cycle of the males. He wanted to understand why they produce semen only once a year. His goal was to develop an application that could be used to control population of dogs.

In the 1980’s he built a hand-hewn log cabin using a chain saw and an adze. When he couldn't purchase iron hinges and latches to his liking he took up blacksmithing and created his own designs. Subsequently he founded the Western Canadian Blacksmith Guild.

Mike enjoyed writing. Some of his stories and articles were published. “The Car” was a short story included in NAFA’s 1993 Celebration of American Falconry: A Bond With the Wild. The article “Dr. Mike’s Foolproof Imping Method” was published in the Wildlife Journal, 1992; in Wildlife Health News, 1993; and in North American Falconry and Hunting Hawks, 1994. In that article, Mike explains that ‘the only material completely compatible for use as an imping needle in splicing a feather shaft is a feather shaft.’ And in 1992 under the pseudonym Harry O. Austringer, he wrote a four part series, “Gone Hawking,” in the magazine Outdoor Edge.

Mike was also active in his profession. He served on various committees and in 1992 was elected president of Alberta Veterinary Medical Association.
Mike’s interests and hobbies have been numerous and varied and while they are too numerous to mention in detail some can be touched upon here. Mike was always a cowboy at heart. In younger years he helped put himself through university by rodeoing—-he rode Brahma bulls, broncs, and roped calves. Later in life he won competitions on reining and cutting horses and packed his family into the mountains on horseback. His horses were outfitted, in part, by tents and gear of Mike’s own making.

When Mike wasn’t flying birds he could be found teaching logging skills to his grandsons, pounding iron into ornamental items and Damascus steel blades, making falcon hoods, piloting his plane or helicopter, or skiing black diamonds with equally interested family members and friends. During his lifetime he was a blackbelt judo instructor; dog trainer, competitor and judge; classical guitarist; wine maker; bee keeper; big game hunter; fisherman; braider of rawhide; chess player and church goer. His Catholic faith was very important to him…no matter where he was he made time to attend week-end Mass.

It’s hard to believe that one man could pack so much living into a single life time. Though Mike was small of stature he was bigger than life.