INTRODUCTION   There are many courses available in the UK, however not all are as good as they might be. The best way to find a good one is to visit a number of places and try to judge what you think of them from a sensible point of view. For anyone who wants to take up the sport of falconry, or just wants to keep a bird, a good course really is a must.

The main reason is the welfare of the birds; unlike training any other animal, where mistakes just lead to a badly behaved one, mistakes in training a bird of prey can lead to its death. That is not acceptable, so learning the basics before getting the bird is only common sense and common decency towards the birds. It also makes keeping a bird so much more pleasurable if you understand the problems, start with the right bird and the right housing, and have someone on tap to ask for help if and when things go wrong.  Things to ask are:-

How clean and tidy is the place?
Is there a sense of pride in the buildings and the birds?
Are the signs accurate and neat and clean?
Are the tethered birds in good clean and airy housing?
Are the tethered birds all flown regularly? (regularly means at least four times a week)
Are the staff caring and knowledgeable?
Are the commentaries informative
and do not make fun of the birds?
Are the birds in good feather condition?
Are the baths clean and full?
Does the place look cared for?

All of this will give you a feel for a good place, or one that you should avoid. But you will have to go to several before you get a feel for things

A good falconry experience day should give you a great experience, more understanding of these wonderful birds, and memories to cherish. A good day may also give you a lifelong passion, so beware!