Falconry is the ancient sport of kings and was first noted some 3000 years ago in the Middle East and while once the preserve of Moghuls, Emperors and the nobility the sport almost died out with the advent of the gun.
This gift is a 2 hour guided walk with birds of prey for 4 people.
Birdwatcher? Inspired by Hedwig from Harry Potter?
- Get up close to a Harris Hawk, Falcon, Eagle Owl or Peregrine
- See birds of prey circling and swooping in their natural environment
- Explore the Lanarkshire countryside with a bird of prey on your fist
- Great for all regardless of age, ability and temperament
- True hunting experiences are available
A Day of Falconry
You are welcomed to the falconer’s Lanarkshire home and premises in southern Scotland where you spend some time getting used to the birds, the glove and getting the bird of prey to fly to your fist.
Each person in your wee group will be given the most suitable bird for the weather and their needs. You then you walk up to the land behind the falconry buildings where the birds get a chance to fly and look for prey or chase the “dummy bunny”.
On a windy day we don’t fly the Harris Hawk, but will use a falcon, and on ‘dreich’ days we use a Red Tail Hawk.
What you’ll need
- Walking shoes or boots
- Warm / water proof clothing (of any colour)
- Jacket or shirt with long sleeves
A Rewarding Experience
A Bird of Prey is a free creature, that can hunt and survive for itself so why does it come back? The answer is the bond between man and bird and the trust the bird has you will not hurt it. It makes a choice to land on a fist, it is never a given conclusion that it will do so, it has free will. The fact that the bird chooses to come back to you can make our Falconry and Hawking Experience Activity particularly rewarding for those that are undergoing a low in their lives.
Experience A Hunt
If you have specified that you want to hunt, and experience a real falconry day, ferrets and dogs will be used to flush out game for the birds to take. Your bird of prey will be looking for its natural diet on the Hawk Walk and anything it catches it will eat. This is never hunting for the sake of the blood sport but a chance for you to witness the natural cycle of nature. Often, the bird of prey is carrying out a useful function for the farmer in naturally and swiftly reducing pests and vermin.
Hunting like this can only take place in season (autumn and winter months) so out of season, or if you choose, we can recreate the experience without looking for prey.
We can also demonstrate the bird of prey’s speed with a race between hawk and human and the falconer can also demonstrate the bird’s accuracy of flight close up with experiences that you will want to relive later with your companions.
Suitability
You will need to be fit enough to walk and able to cope with occasionally rough ground for this experience activity but this as it is only your group and you can go at your own speed.
Because of the length of this activity and the fact that it is the bird of prey’s nature to hunt some “cuddly” animals we don’t recommend this activity for young children.
For children over 12 who are in that difficult age between childhood and being able to drive, this can provide a birthday experience activity with a wow factor that other parents might not have thought of. (Please note – we do require children to be accompanied by an adult but will not charge for the adult where they do not actually participate.)
Transport
Buses from Lanark to Biggar pass the end of our road every 30 minutes
Gift Ref: RHUSTR001