Becoming a Falconer
If you are just starting out in the sport of fal-
conry, you will want to attend one of these
demonstrations. Whether you choose to stay
at a resort and take part in a general falconry
experience, or you choose to go to a camp
with more in-depth training, that is up to you.
Again, it all depends on your level of interest.
How far do you want to go with falconry? Do
you simply want to witness the sport, and pos-
sibly have a bird perched on your own glove,
or do you want to trap a raptor of your own
and care for it for years to come? The options
vary but the latter will require a hefty amount
of time and effort, so before you sign up to
become a falconer, make sure you under-
stand the workload.
“before you sign up to become
a falconer, make sure you
understand the workload.”
Know your birds. When stepping into the world of falconry as a be-
ginner, you should know that different birds must be cared for in differ-
ent ways. The most common beginner bird is a Red-tailed Hawk. You
can start out with a Kestrel, just like the common folk back in the early
days, but beware that they are a little harder to take care of. Red-
tailed Hawks are easy to find and easy to care for, generally speaking,
so this species may be suggested as your go-to. You don’t want to
make the mistake of diving into the sport thinking that you’re going
to suddenly become a master falconer and own several Peregrines
and a Gyrfalcon. The birds are high maintenance and therefore re-
quire a higher level of training and knowledge. Even if you are ready
to commit to a Red-tailed Hawk, you will still need to undergo an ap-
prenticeship, where a falconer will sponsor you and you’ll most likely
be paired with a bird that has already learned the basics.