Five-Day Course
Bird of Prey Courses
Courses
Five Day
At the centre I am often asked “is it possible for me to keep a bird?” The answer to this depends on time, commitment and to some extent finances. I now run five-day courses from the centre (split over several weeks), in Thurstonfield, near Carlisle, Cumbria, teaching the skills required to keep and train a Harris Hawk.
The Training
The knowledge gained on this course will give you the ground work and experience to choose a bird, furnish it, man it (make it comfortable on the fist) and ultimately train and fly your bird free. The training you are given will be useful in the training of hawks, buzzards and owls, however it does not cover the training of falcons. You will be taught how to make and apply your hawk's equipment and given guidance on aviary design, weathering and mews specification. You will also be taught how to repair feathers, trim beaks, safely restrain a bird and of course the weighing and ultimately training of a hawk, along with other practical aspects of keeping a bird of prey. This is the only bird of prey course, of its kind, on offer in North Cumbria and South West Scotland.
I would also like to think that whilst learning these skills you have a good time and come away feeling that as well as having learned a new skill you have had a holiday.
Other Similar Courses
The centre also offers two-day falconry breaks, although these are not falconry courses they do offer a toe in the water insight into keeping birds of prey.
Requirements and Costs
Price per person £600.00
Spectators are not allowed
Minimum age unaccompanied is 16
Minimum age accompanied is 14