Loek Buter

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In the small town of Anna Paulowna in the northern part of the Netherlands, kids are studying to become falconers. Dutch photographer Loek Buter first noticed some of these young trainers at a local bird show, totally unafraid and completely comfortable with the hawks and owls on their arms. Vogelkinderen, which translates to “bird children,” is Buter’s portrait series of the children training under falconer Karel Geurts. All between the ages of nine and 15, they spend much of their free time after school, on the weekends, and even on vacation, working with the birds. Here, Buter shares some of his favorite images. Photo: Rik knew he wanted to become a falconer from the moment he trained his cockatiel to fly from the bed to the desk in his bedroom. His Red-tailed hawk is named Katana after the Japanese word for sword, which he decided on after feeling the sharpness of the bird’s talons.
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These Dutch Kids Are Training to Become Falconers

Vogelkinderen, which translates to “bird children,” is Buter’s portrait series of the children training under falconer Karel Geurts.