Jun 28
Campus Theatre Lewisburg, PA
TicketsMike Dupuy
Master Falconer; Raptor Breeder (Propagator); Researcher and Conservationist
H is for Hawk— G Is for Goshawk: A Lifetime Pursuing North America's Most Mysterious Hawk
Program Description
At eight years old, Mike Dupuy read My Side of the Mountain and decided he wanted to become a falconer. Decades later, after searching mountains and forests across North America for goshawks and dedicating his life to birds of prey, he reflects on the power of literature to inspire scientific curiosity, conservation, and lifelong adventure. Long before H Is for Hawk introduced millions of readers to the fascination and mystery of the goshawk, Dupuy was searching forests and mountains for the species and studying its place in the landscape.
Through stories, photographs, and live birds of prey, he will explore the science, history, conservation, and culture surrounding the Northern Goshawk. Drawing on decades of experience as a falconer, propagator, researcher, and educator, he will discuss the challenges of studying an elusive forest predator and how literature, personal experience, and scientific inquiry shape our understanding of raptors. The presentation connects the themes of H Is for Hawk with the realities of modern falconry, raptor propagation, conservation, and research.
Film Synopsis
After losing her beloved father, Helen finds herself saved by an unlikely friendship with a stubborn hawk named Mabel.
H is for Hawk follows Helen (Claire Foy), who, after the sudden death of her father (Brendan Gleeson), loses herself in the memories of their time birding and exploring the natural world together and turns the ancient art of falconry-rooted in European tradition-training a wild goshawk named Mabel to navigate her profound loss. But as she teaches Mabel to hunt and fly free, Helen discovers how deeply she has neglected her own emotions and life. What begins as an act of endurance transforms into an intimate journey of resilience and healing.
Photo credit: Roadside Attractions
About the Speaker
Mike Dupuy is a Master Falconer based in central Pennsylvania. His fascination with birds of prey began at age eight when he read My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George. Inspired by the story of a young boy and his falcon, Dupuy decided he wanted to become a falconer. Recognizing his enthusiasm, his stepmother helped arrange correspondence with Jean Craighead George, and years later the two met in person and became friends. That childhood inspiration launched a lifelong journey that eventually led Dupuy into falconry, raptor propagation, research, and conservation. Mentored by pioneering raptor researcher Dr. Heinz Meng, Dupuy developed a particular passion for goshawks and spent decades pursuing and studying the species throughout North America. After moving to Pennsylvania, Dupuy spent approximately fourteen years searching for and studying goshawks throughout the state's mountain forests. He served on the Pennsylvania Biological Survey Goshawk Subcommittee, contributing field observations and participating in discussions concerning goshawk research, management, and conservation. Prior to his Pennsylvania research efforts, Dupuy searched for goshawks as a falconer in Nevada, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Maryland, and New York. He later continued goshawk field work in Ontario, Canada. These experiences provided a rare opportunity to observe the species across a wide range of habitats and landscapes throughout North America. Dupuy is the founder of the Goshawk
Society and Mike Dupuy Hawk Food. His work has been featured in major media outlets, including a Philadelphia Inquirer cover story and the Huffington Post article “Meet the Falconer Who Took on the Feds and Won.” Known for combining science, storytelling, and live birds of prey, he brings audiences a unique perspective on the relationship between humans and raptors.