The falconer from Bachhausen: hunting, shows and walks with birds of prey
Created: 07/03/2022 07:16
By: Laura Forster
Golden eagle lady "Sansa" can see a mouse at a distance of 1.2 kilometers, but that is just one of many abilities that Benedikt Demmler jun.
finds fascinating in birds of prey.
In addition to "Sansa", there are also gyrfalcons, a little owl, a barn owl and a desert buzzard in the 25-year-old's falconry facility in Bachhausen.
© Photographer: Andrea Jaksch
Since childhood, Benedikt Demmler has been junior.
fascinated by birds of prey.
A year ago he got his falconer license and built several aviaries in his garden in Bachhausen.
Since then he has been out with his animals almost every weekend - for a show or on the hunt.
Bachhausen – Patience is a virtue that Benedikt Demmler jun.
had to learn since the golden eagle lady "Sansa" lived with him in Bachhausen.
The five-year-old bird is currently in puberty.
“Sometimes I'm not allowed to come into the aviary for days.
As soon as I try to open the door, she shoots at me," says the 25-year-old.
However, the love for his bird of prey does not diminish as a result, on the contrary, it grows.
Demmler sees "Sansa" as her partner, her husband - and in a relationship, shreds fly after all.
However, the eagle is currently in a good phase.
He is full and satisfied after an air show in the morning and lets Demmler tease him.
"Sansa" turns her head alertly, scans the surroundings with her large amber eyes, spreads her imposing wings and swings back and forth with them.
When the eagle, which weighs almost six kilos, reaches a length of almost two and a half meters, it takes even the trained fitness economist strength and energy to keep "Sansa" on his wrist.
But the fascination for the animal is written all over Demmler's face when he watches the bird with a smile and scratches its soft plumage.
Benedikt Demmler learned everything about falconry in Weilheim-Schongau
The Bachhauser has been interested in birds of prey since he was a small child.
“It was my first time in a falconry.
After that I tried to train my father's pigeons.
But that didn't work out so well," says Demmler and laughs.
As a teenager, he learned everything there was to know about this special passion from a falconer from the Weilheim-Schongau district.
“He took me by the hand for three years.” However, in order to be able to work with the animals himself, Demmler had to obtain a hunting license and a falconry license.
"Both very demanding tests," he says.
The falconry in Bachhausen has been officially registered with the veterinary office since May - a necessary step for Demmler.
"Before that, I wasn't allowed to show the birds to friends or acquaintances, nor to put on shows." The trained carpenter built three large aviaries for his animals in part of the family garden.
In addition to the golden eagle lady, gyrfalcons, a little owl, a barn owl and a desert buzzard live there.
The Bachhauser got most of the birds from breeders, but there is also an internet sales platform, similar to Ebay classified ads, called falconbreeding.eu.
Demmler has equipped the site with several cameras.
"That way I can see if everything is okay, no matter where I am."
In addition to hunting, Demmler also offers shows and walks with the birds
First and foremost, Demmler keeps the animals for hunting.
Almost every weekend from September to January he travels throughout Germany with a group of passionate falconers.
“All hunters are so enthusiastic about 'Sansa' that they invite us to their territory.
We have even been to Schleswig-Holstein before.” While its falcons primarily hunt other birds such as crows, the golden eagle is after foxes or deer.
For a few weeks now, Demmler has also been offering shows every Friday – at home in his falconry or in facilities such as kindergartens or schools.
"I've been to a wedding with the birds before, and now and then photographers ask for shoots." He particularly likes to take his desert buzzard with him to appointments.
"With him, everyone can feel what it means to keep a bird of prey." Demmler came up with a clever trick for the shows.
"I tie a piece of meat to a drone, let it rise and using a mechanism the food falls to the ground and the bird flies after it." This allows him to show viewers how fast his animals are - they can reach speeds of up to reach 300 km/h.
In addition to the shows, Demmler also offers owl hikes.
An offer,
His animals are the top priority for Demmler
Despite the high demand, falconry remains a hobby for Demmler.
"I just want to be flexible.
If the animals aren't doing so well, I want to be able to cancel an appointment." Because his birds are the 25-year-old's top priority.
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The falconry in Bachhausen can be reached via the website falknereidemmler.de, by telephone on 0179/2 98 28 90 or by e-mail to info@falknereidemmler.de.