Yeti joins Air Force academy mascots

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U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) --  The cast of falcon mascots here increased with the addition of its newest bird, Yeti.

A hybrid cross between a white gyrfalcon and a Middle Eastern saker, Yeti is a large, athletic bird, said Lt. Col. Jim Imlay, 34th Training Wing director of staff and academy falconry director.

The idea for the new bird came from falconry program adviser Sam Dollar, and the bird came from an Oregon breeder, Imlay said.

“We had a total of five birds affected by West Nile. Only one, Magellan, who also had Luekemia, died, and our gray gyrfalcon, Destiny, lost sight in her left eye. Otherwise all the birds are fine now,” Imlay said.

The West Nile Virus affected the academy’s performing falcons, though. One, Cody, was already retired from performing because of a wing injury last year. That left Titanium and Liberty as the primary performers, with Magellan slated to join their ranks. Magellan’s death and Titanium’s infection by West Nile reduced the performer ranks to one lone bird -- Liberty, officials said.

The academy falconers then started training one of their other falcons -- Havoc -- for performances, along with the hybrid Yeti.

"Yeti is the first hybrid bird in the academy's program," Imlay said. "He is about halfway in size between the smaller prairie falcons and the larger (gyrfalcons)."

Yeti weighs 30 ounces and will be the largest of the academy’s performing falcons.

"We'll unveil him at the next home football game, most likely," Imlay said. "There may be other performances between now and then."

The name Yeti, which is also the name of the mythical Himalayan abominable snowman, was thought up by cadets who work in the falconry program. Since white gyrfalcons are an arctic breed and Yeti has more white to his feathers than most of his fellow falcons, the name stuck, he said.

Not only will Yeti be the academy’s newest performer, he will also be able to produce offspring, Imlay said.

"Cross breeding is very prevalent in the civilian falconry community," he said.

In most cases, falconers use such birds to hunt ducks and pigeons. Cross breeding gives the best attributes of both species, officials said.

"He is very intelligent, very athletic and a superb flier," Imlay said.

The falconers and their feathered friends perform at all academy NCAA home football games before crowds of up to 50,000 people. They also make many public appearances at base airshows, schools and youth groups throughout the year. The flying mascots can reach speeds exceeding 200 mph during dives upon their prey.