If you have ever fancied the idea of owning and training a falcon, you are not alone. Many people watch these elegant birds and want to own one. However, unlike many birds, owning a falcon isn't as easy as just going out and getting one. It can be difficult to even know where to start when you decide to become a falconer for the first time. Here are some of the steps you will have to go through and the things you will need to know to buy a falcon.
Not Everyone Can Legally Own Falcons
Unlike most other birds and many household pets, falcons aren't something that everyone can own. There are federal and state laws that restrict falcon ownership. You have to be certified to be a falconer. Getting that certification isn't easy, and it requires a serious commitment to get it.
It Starts With Education
Before you can get your falconry certification, you'll have to first take an exam. This exam will document your knowledge and your understanding of the bird itself, its care, and its needs. If you pass that exam, you move on to hands-on education. You will have to spend two years with either a master or general falconer. You will assist them, work with the birds, and learn more about the details of caring for these birds. The falconer you work with will have to certify that you spent two full years fulfilling that requirement.
You Have To Pass Inspection
Once you complete your apprenticeship with the falconer, you will have to undergo a couple of different property inspections. First, you will need to have your property and falcon housing inspected by the falconer that you work with. In addition, you also need to have a similar inspection completed by a state or federal official.
Certification Has Requirements
When you do obtain certification to own a falcon, that certification will come with a series of requirements. The most important one is that your falcon will be required a certain amount of consistent free flight. In order to complete these routine free flights, that means you will have to spend a lot of time working with, bonding with, and training your falcon so that it returns to you after those free flights.
If you are seriously considering becoming a falconer, you should talk with a falconry breeder like Flint Hills Falcons LLC in your area for more information. He or she can guide you through the process.
