One Hour Hawking Experiences:
These one hour classes provide the average person an exposure to an ancient sport which they usually know little about. By discussing several different types of birds--eagles, owls, hawks, and falcons--the student gains a new appreciation for the bird's inherent abilities and the nature of predation. After discussing the birds, the hawks are flown free in the surrounding countryside. The hawks are flown to the fist several times while the steps of training a bird for falconry are discussed. Next, students have an opportunity to see how our trained Harris Hawks would actually hunt. By utilizing an artificial lure similar to the lure used at a Greyhound track, we are able to simulate an actual hunting scenario. As the lure speeds from its hiding place the hawk, which is sitting overhead waiting for some action, quickly takes off and aggressively pursues the lure until seized in her talons. The hour lesson concludes with each student having an opportunity to put on a leather glove and hold our trained Saker Falcon.

Daily Reservation Available
Cost: Adults: $85.00 Children: $70.00

Three Day Beginners Course:
In order to promote excellence through education The Falconry & Raptor Education Foundation provides a three day beginners course. The goal of this course is to graduate students which are fully informed regarding the commitment falconry requires.

We hope that by giving a student an in depth, hands on exposure to falconry we will graduate students who will become highly dedicated, well versed apprentices.

At The Falconry & Raptor Education Foundation we hope to take some of the mysticism out of this great sport. Currently, much of the training done by a new falconer is corrective, a new falconer obtains the first bird, then with rather limited knowledge gives the training his best shot. Often times the first bird comes out of training as an acceptable bird and other times the new falconer has a bird which is difficult to hood, has awful manners and refuses to chase quarry. At this point in the training the new falconer seeks out a more experienced falconer to help him solve the behavioral problems he is having with his bird. The more experienced falconer will talk with the new falconer about possible errors which were made during the training and how to progress with the bird he currently has, hence the term corrective training.

It is important to remember that our course is not required by law, it is however, a tool which you may use to determine if falconry is a sport you would like to pursue.

We firmly believe that our beginners course allows the new falconer to be involved in preventative training as opposed to the already discussed corrective training (given there will be some degree of corrective training with any bird trained.) The principle behind preventive training is that a new falconer will begin the training of his new bird with a clear path which must be traveled to obtain the goal of a well manned, strong hunting hawk. Our course focuses on the principles behind the training steps. No one could adequately prepare a new falconer for the trails which will be faced during training because every bird is different, however, if a new falconer understands the principles behind certain training procedures then he will be able to figure out, based on previously taught principles what the best solution to the problem might be. Having gone through a mock training session with one of our already trained hawks and having a clear direction of where the training of a freshly caught hawk must go, the new falconer will most likely have a very positive and successful experience with his first bird. For more information on our beginners course click here.