Falconry is hunting wild quarry with a trained bird of prey. To start responsibly, arrange practical instruction, find experienced local support and work through the requirements for keeping and flying a bird before you buy one.
The first useful purchase may be a place on a suitable course rather than a bird or a box of equipment. Raptor Awards advises beginners to obtain basic instruction before acquiring a bird of prey.[1] Reading helps you arrive prepared, but someone needs to see what you do with your hands and how you respond to the bird.
What should you learn before buying a bird?
Learn what the daily responsibility involves, including the work that happens when nobody is flying. Ask an instructor to show you a normal routine and explain what changes when the falconer is away, the bird cannot fly or facilities need attention.
Bring a notebook and record questions rather than trying to memorise every term at once. A mews is housing for a falconry bird. Manning is the process of helping a bird become accustomed to the falconer and relevant surroundings. You will understand both better when you can connect the words to practical examples.
Ask to observe preparation, handling and putting equipment away. It is easy to imagine the flying part and overlook the organisation around it. Explain your available time honestly, including workdays, travel and other commitments. A plan that only works during a holiday needs revising before you acquire a bird.
How do you find instruction and a mentor?
Start with a recognised club or training organisation and ask about practical learning near you. The British Falconers' Club provides a newcomer route and regional contacts that can help prospective falconers enter the community.[2] Equivalent support will differ by country.
When speaking to a potential instructor, explain whether you hope to hunt, assist at a centre or simply understand falconry better. Those aims can lead to different learning opportunities. Ask who will teach you, which practical skills are covered and how you can continue learning afterwards.
A mentor should be someone you can ask about an uncertain decision, not just someone who sells you a bird. Agree what help is realistic. Can they watch you handle equipment? Will they visit your proposed facilities? Do they have relevant experience with the birds and country you are considering?
What must you arrange at home and in the field?
Write a practical plan for facilities, care, equipment, access and local rules. Treat each as a question to resolve, with a named person or authority who can check the answer. Avoid turning an attractive photograph of a setup into your specification.
| Decision | Useful question to resolve |
|---|---|
| Instruction | Who will observe and assess my practical work? |
| Facilities | Who will review the proposed arrangement before acquisition? |
| Daily care | Who is responsible when I am unavailable? |
| Field access | Where can the intended activity lawfully take place? |
| Veterinary support | Which avian veterinary practice can I contact? |
| Records | How will I keep bird documents and daily observations organised? |
Check the relevant public authority for your location. DEFRA and Natural England's guidance is a starting point for keeping wild birds in England, not a statement of the rules everywhere.[3] Do not import a US apprenticeship requirement into an Irish plan, or assume English guidance covers Scotland.
How do you choose a suitable species?
Make the choice with your instructor after the practical plan is clear. Available land, intended activity, experience and facilities belong in the conversation alongside species. A bird advertised as a beginner's bird still needs an individual assessment.
Use a guide to falconry equipment to learn the names of tools, then have someone explain the choices for the bird under discussion. Do the same with the stages of falcon training. Neither article should become a reason to skip hands-on instruction.
Before buying, ask what information accompanies the bird and who can help interpret it. Keep questions about legal provenance separate from questions about suitability: resolving one does not automatically resolve the other. If a seller pressures you to decide before your instructor can help, give yourself space to pause.
How should you keep track of what you learn?
Keep short notes that distinguish what you observed from what you were told to practise next. Record the question, the advice and the person who will review it. A useful learning entry might say that you watched a demonstration and still need supervised practice, rather than marking the whole topic complete.
When daily weighing becomes part of your practical instruction, learn a consistent weighing routine. Falconry Scale's record-keeping features can support the records, but a recorded number does not make the decision for you. Bring uncertainty back to your instructor, and health concerns to an avian vet.
Questions falconers ask
Can I teach myself falconry?
Reading can prepare you for practical instruction, but it cannot check your handling, equipment or interpretation of a bird in front of you. Arrange supervised learning before acquiring a raptor. Use books and articles to prepare questions, then ask an experienced instructor to observe the skills you are learning.
Do I need a mentor?
A knowledgeable local mentor gives you someone to discuss decisions with and to watch you work. Formal requirements differ between countries and regions, so check the applicable rules separately. Choose someone whose experience matches the type of falconry you hope to practise and who is willing to explain their decisions.
Which bird should I start with?
Choose a species with your instructor after discussing your experience, available land, facilities and daily commitments. There is no single beginner bird suitable for every person or country. A small bird is not automatically easier, and a familiar species name does not tell you whether an individual bird suits your circumstances.
Sources
- [1]Beginning with Birds of Prey and Owls FAQs, Raptor Awards (accessed 2026-11-04)
- [2]Becoming a member, British Falconers’ Club (accessed 2026-11-04)
- [3]Keeping wild birds or animals, DEFRA and Natural England (accessed 2026-11-04)
