The Whidbey Audubon Society will gather for the program “Falconry: An Ancient Art” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation north of Freeland.

Dr. Mark Borden and his Harris hawk, Zeb, will share the history of falconry, starting with a world glimpse. Borden will then give a more detailed report of the sport in the United States and how it has progressed over the last 50 years, from a bounty on all birds of prey to total protection. He will also share some of his experiences with falconry over the years and explain what goes into training the birds.

Borden is an emergency physician who also owns a farm on Whidbey Island. He has created nesting boxes in his fence to lure swallows to his farm. The swallows then feast on the flies that annoy his horses.