About 2 years ago i bought my girlfriend and myself a day flying falcons and other birds of prey. It surprised me how much i loved it and i thought then that when i have the time a bit later in life i would like to take more of an active interest in falconry.

Now im out in mexico and there are a pair of peregrine falcons who hunt right above where i am working. Its absolutely fascinating to watch them in the wild.

So – does anyone have any experience of falconry and where a complete novice like myself could get more information. Ive just found the International Falconry forum but any other info would be gratefully appreciated.

No help to you but a mate and I have done a couple of handling days at the birds of prey centre near settle. Fantastic days out.

A number of years ago I was up staying with a friend who ran the shooting school at Gleneagles Hotel. There was a falconry day which we managed to go on – I loved it and birds of prey ever since.
Read a number of books and am still very keen.
Promised myself that one day, when it's the right time, I'll get myself a Harris Hawk. Seem to starting with chickens at the moment though 😉

The Hawk Conservancy at Weyhill, near Andover, would be good people to contact. There are other people who do courses around the country, a google search will probably find someone local to you.

I used Countrywide Falconry in Kent click here for a similar day's courses. (We flew the harris hawks that do Downing Street's pest control for the morning! 😆 )

To get started yourself, just volunteer your time & help to a local falconry place near where you live, that's what i've done with a local falconry place – like you I loved it & would like to do more!

Yep thats looking more and more like the plan. Ill go and see if there is anywhere local when i get home and volunteer to do anything.

Watching these birds hunt and live in their natural habitat it very humbling. 😮

My partners parents have neighbours who kept a falcon type bird. It attacked the woman and they got rid. Replaced it with some weird owl thing.

Guy near us does days out and trains people up – google the Owl Experience. When I was there yesterday one of his signs suggested he was part of some sort of recognised falconry organisation, I'd have thought a google would turn them up for you to find someone nearby.

It's an awesome experience flyings birds and hunting with them, brings out all the caveman instincts.

Just google falconry courses and you'll get a bunch of hits, and there's sure to be somewhere near you.
Here's the ones I got first time:

Falconry and hawking courses
Sussex Falconry Centre have run courses for over 15 years to suit all ages and abilities from beginners to those with many years …
http://www.sussexfalconrycentre.co.uk/… – Options
Falconry UK | Courses in Falconry Nationwide
Falconry experiences – Superb Falconry days at centres throughout the country. Fly a stunning range of birds of prey and sample …
http://www.intotheblue.co.uk/../falconry/ – Options
The Falconry Centre
Birds of prey at the Falconry Centre in North Yorkshire – flying displays and falconry courses.
http://www.falconrycentre.co.uk/ – Options
Falconry Displays Falconry Courses Birds of Prey Centre Kent UK
Falconry Courses to suit all ages in the stunning grounds of ..Doddington Place Gardens. Homepage · Falconry Courses …
http://www.thehawkingcentre.co.uk/falc… – Options
Falconry Courses Falconry Displays Kent Fly Birds of Prey Centre
Unique Falconry Courses and insight days at the Hawking Centre, Leeds Castle, Kent.
http://www.thehawkingcentre.co.uk/ – Options
Falconry courses UK: Falconry course UK: Falconry courses reviews
Falconry courses: browse UK Falconry courses, short Falconry courses, wkd Falconry courses, evening Falconry courses with Falconry …
http://www.hotcourses.com/../page.htm – Options
Cotswold Falconry & Bird of Prey Centre
Cotswold Falconry Centre. Books & Falconry Equipment Courses & Experiences. Photo Gallery. Daily Flying Displays 11.30, 13.30, …
http://www.cotswold-falconry.co.uk/ – Options
Welcome to Yaraks Birds Of Prey Falconry Centre.
Here at Yarak falconry centre you will have a life changing experience you'll want to repeat!! You will have our undivided …
http://www.yarakbirdsofprey.co.uk/ – Options
Falconry experience courses, South of Edinburgh, Scotland …
Falconry courses and falconry breaks allowing you to experience free-flying and hunting with a bird of prey.
http://www.countryhousehotelscotland.c… – Options
Falconry courses, holidays, weekends and vacations
Falconry courses, holidays and vacations from the travel-quest specialist travel directory.
http://www.travel-quest.co.uk/tqfalcon… – Options

CountZero, thanks for putting the effort into finding all that info.

As you say, google is your friend 8)

there is a guy who does week long courses in the borders for people who want to own a bird

Guy at work has Harris Hawks, fantastic birds. Intelligent easy to fly and train and superb hunters. My fridge is stuffed full of rabbit at the moment.