This is a new course on learning how to work with Harris hawks, and maybe other hunting animals as well, depending on how they are feeling.  Just a word of warning:  if the wind is too strong, the Harris hawks cannot fly, but we do have a lovely field sheltered from everything but an East wind.

This has to be a very small group (7) so early booking is recommended..

COURSE  CONTENT

• Introductions & safety
• History of falconry
• Birds used today
• The five groups
• Equipment
• Handling a bird on the fist
• Making jesses and fitting them to a model bird
• Owls
• Flying a barn owl in the classroom
• Flying a Harris hawk outside
• Questions & answers

The five groups are:  long wings, short wings, broad wings, eagles, owls

Equipment:  gauntlet, anklets, jesses, swivel, leash, bells, telemetry, hoods, creance, lure, scales

Comments from past participants

Very interesting, though a dummy bird would be a useful prop to demonstrate how the equipment is put on [we will have one next time].

I would have been interested in a bit more bid biology.  It was a good general introduction to falconry, as in the brochure.  Catering brilliant and well organised.

Though the day was very interesting, I felt it was aimed at people who were thinking of getting involved in falconry rather than being just interested in learning more about the birds and handling them and seing them fly.  However I really enjoyed the experience.  Enjoyed the walk to the owl tower [we have bred seven barn owl chicks in the past three years of its existence].