NAFA North American Falconers Association

Tyler Rankin
Erlanger, KY
Contact Director Rankin 

Biography

A lifelong resident of Kentucky, Tyler lives with his family outside the town of Burlington. He has degrees in biology and applied ecology and as a Project Manager for an environmental consulting firm, he specializes in impact reductions to streams, wetlands, and endangered species. Tyler was introduced to falconry in 2009 during his thesis research at Eastern Kentucky University and has been practicing falconry since 2016. Like most falconers, Tyler has always had a deep respect and fascination wildlife of the natural world, and through falconry he has found an outlet to express his passions. Northern Kentucky provides a vast amount of habitat and opportunities for cottontails and squirrels, so red-tailed hawks and Harris’s hawks are what he has gained the most hawking experience with.

Tyler has served in the roles of president and vice president of the Kentucky Falconers Association. A club that was reformed in 2017 and has made great improvements in the promotion and preservation of falconry in his state. Within the highly regulated sport of falconry, he believes running a state club which provides assistance and networking opportunities to active falconers as well as to prospective falconers is essential to the success and growth of the sport. Developing an organization with a common vision and utilizing the resources and knowledge of its members is essential in developing a good working relationship with state and federal regulators as well. As NAFA director, one of Tyler’s main goals is to assist other state clubs and help them in their success and legitimacy by creating networking opportunities and a common pool of resources for state falconry clubs within the southeast region. Taking on many different leadership roles throughout his life, helping others toward a common cause that you are very passionate about makes the job easier and more enjoyable.

Since joining NAFA, a new world has come to light. Within this organization, there are so many opportunities to make acquaintances and learn about how others hunt various quarry in different parts of the country and their respective ecosystems. You cannot confine falconry to a specific label or routine. It is ever-changing, ever-evolving sport where we can take pieces from others and use it to improve and grow ourselves and our own unique falconry experience. Tyler is very excited to step up in the NAFA leadership team and assist the southeastern directorate in the promotion and preservation of falconry.