What is falconry?

Falconry is the ancient practice of training birds of prey to kill for man. It dates back thousands of years, the earliest falconers probably using the birds as a means of obtaining food. It soon developed into a sport for kings and queens and the well-to-do, and became very fashionable during the Middle Ages in Europe. Today it is much less widely practiced, but small groups of dedicated enthusiasts still train birds for this exciting sport. It is not a sport that anyone can take up, however. For a start, in most countries birds of prey are protected species and in Britain you need a licence to take one from the wild. Immense patience and understanding are needed to train the young birds to fly after prey, kill, and then return to the falconer. It is somethings you cannot teach yourself and for this reason the sport is exclusive.