Behind the Scenes: What It Really Takes to Train a Bird of Prey

Falconry Experiences & Educational Displays in the UK

One of the most common questions we hear during our falconry displays and school visits is:

"How do they always come back?”

Or sometimes, it’s more of a comment:

"I can imagine that takes a lot of time and work!”

And the honest answer? Yes, it takes a lot of time—and no, we don’t always know they’ll come back! That got me thinking. When people attend our falconry experiences or see our birds of prey up close, they only see a magical moment. What they don’t*see is everything behind it—the hours, days, weeks, and even months of bird training, routine, and patience.

Every single display you see, whether it’s at a school or public event, is built on consistency, trust, and experience. It's not just about flying birds—it's about building a relationship with them through careful planning and repetition.

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What Makes Falconry Special?

For us, the most rewarding part of this job is that magical moment when a bird takes flight during a falconry display, or lands calmly on a glove during an educational falconry workshop. That single moment is the result of weeks of behind-the-scenes work.

It’s a moment that gives guests a once-in-a-lifetime experience—and while it might only last a few minutes, it represents a massive investment of time, care, and training.

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What Happens Behind the Scenes?

Behind the curtain, so to speak, is a very structured day. Every bird is cared for according to a strict routine—feeding and training times are kept consistent. For example, each bird of prey is taken from its aviary, weighed, and transported for training at roughly the same time every day.

Training is primarily based on exposure and positive reinforcement through food. We slowly introduce the birds to environments and situations they might face during school falconry workshops, public demonstrations, or falconry experiences across the UK.

That means getting them used to:

* Large crowds of people

* Dogs and other animals

* Noisy environments

* Vehicles and transport

* Unfamiliar buildings or schools

This exposure has to happen gradually. For example, we might feed a bird in the presence of a dog to teach them that the dog isn’t a threat. (Though I’ll admit- dogs are one of the more challenging hurdles!)

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Training Birds of Prey: Step-by-Step Milestones

We work in milestones. Just because a bird can fly to one or two people doesn’t mean it’s ready to perform in front of a crowd of 100+ during a bird of prey school visit or educational event.

Each step in the bird’s training builds confidence and trust. Once a falcon catches the lure (a key training tool in falconry), it’s fed and returned home. That’s the end of the session. You often don’t repeat—you continue the next day.

It may sound simple, but this process can take weeks or even months to get right.

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Every Bird is Unique

All birds are different. One bird may take to falconry training quickly, within a week or two. Another may need months to feel confident and safe. This is where patience, knowledge, and experience really matter.

The birds of prey you see during school visits or falconry displays didn’t get there overnight. Every calm, focused flight is the result of hundreds of small steps behind the scenes.

And while it’s not always easy, seeing it all come together—even just for a short time—makes it all worth it.

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Interested in Learning More?

If you’re a teacher looking to book a **falconry workshop for your school**, or just someone fascinated by the process of **training birds of prey in the UK**, we’d love to share more. Get in touch to find out how we can bring the magic of falconry to your classroom or event.