Falconry is a very old sport and the falconers that came along to our Forest School were Dean and Glen from Regal Raptors.

They brought 9 birds including Owls, Harris Hawks, a Kestrel and a Falcon. They explained to the pre-school and infant groups all about the birds and let each child hold one of their choice although, as the European Eagle Owl was almost as big as them, we though it better they didn't try this one!

Although falconry can be traced back to ancient times (about 2000BC) in eastern countries, it arrived in Britain during the 800s and became a very popular sport for over four hundred years during the Medieval period.

It was an expensive sport so only the rich people could take part. It was a status symbol to own a falcon and many kings around that time hunted with birds. Poorer people who used birds (illegally) for hunting their food would be punished and were eventually banned from woodlands.

The Laws of Ownership, introduced in the Middle Ages, created a hierarchy of birds that certain classes were allowed to own. This ensured that the king had the best birds for himself as nobody was allowed to own or fly a bird above his rank.

King - Eagles, Vultures, Gyr Falcon
Prince - Juvenile Gyr Falcon
Duke - Peregrine Falcon (F)
Earl - Peregrine Falcon (M)
Barron - Common Buzzard
Knight - Saker Falcon (F/M)
Esquire - Lanner Falcon (F/M)
Lady - Merlin Falcon
Youngman - Hobby
Yeoman (cook) - Goshawk (F)
Poorman - Goshawk (M)
Priest - Sparrowhawk (F)
Clerk - Sparrowhawk (M)
Knave - Kestrel

The falconers who looked after the birds took great care of them and were rewarded if their bird was successful. They trained the birds to catch their prey on the ground and in the air but the most spectacular were the air catches.

Falconry is still practised today and you do not need a licence except for a very few birds but you must use captive-bred birds. You are not allowed to take them from the wild. The government insists that all birds must be ringed and registered but then if you own a beautiful falcon that you have trained you would probably welcome this rule in case it gets lost.

This ancient art still has a place in modern day living apart from displays; as pest control in urban areas!