Worried Parent

[Canon Fodder]

Hi, I am the father of a 15-year-old daughter who has had a passion for hawks since the age of 5. Every falconry experience she could attend, she did, as well as being a regular visitor of the Hawk Conservancy in Hampshire before I moved the family north.

We have just returned from a short holiday at the Center Parc in Whinfell Forest, Cumbria. While there my daughter went on two ‘Hawk Walks’ that are provided by a member of the Lakeland Bird of Prey Centre, Cumbria. On these walks a group of fifteen or so people are taken for a short walk around the woods with a Harris hawk called Bob. Bob’s handler gave all an opportunity to fly the bird, who between taking morsels from the glove, tried hard to make a dent in the local rabbit population.

All this fired up my daughters desire to own a bird of her own, and so she starts pumping Bob’s handler on what she needs to do. As the proud father of two children as well as the owner of a dog, a cat and two very friendly fancy rats, the prospect of adding a Harris Hawk to the menagerie has me asking lots of questions too.

Now I have to admit that I’m not sure where my loyalties are on this one. My daughter is very bright, doing well at school, and aiming for a good university. Homework is always done, her room is usually tidy (Remember this is a teenager we are talking about!) and she has always looked after her animal charges in the past. I thoroughly enjoyed the ‘Walks’ too and there is more than a small part of me that would like to explore this fascinating lifestyle.

However, while Bob’s handler was keen to promote falconry, and seemed to dispel any parental objection I could rally, I am not totally convinced that we are able to look after such a bird properly. We live in a mid terrace house in Blackpool, not a rural location. I’m sure the local authorities would frown on my daughter flying a hawk in the local park, so where would we fly the bird?

Are there any members of this forum who live in built up locations? In fact I would welcome advice from anyone right now. HELP!

At present I’ve told my daughter that if she wants a hawk she can fund it herself. With no income (Yet), bar her pocket money, this is tantamount to a ‘no’ but she is a resourceful girl and if I need to turn this into a solid ‘NO’ I would prefer to do it sooner rather than later.

Sorry for posting such a long first entry. Hope someone can help, and thanks in advance if anyone does,

[Sean]

hey mate, living in a built up area can be a bit of a problem, if the bird is a vocal one, i live in a built up area with a screamer, but luckily nobody minds it, but me lol. they certainly take alot more looking after than a dog and need flown as often as possible. the local park wont be a good place with people about, and dogs. also would she be interested in the hunting side of it? as it aint really fair to have one as a pet.

[Ben C]

Oh dear......once the falconry bug bites its very hard to turn back....

I am not an expert but my advice for what it is worth is this.......

Join a local club and go out hawking with some of their members. Or go back out on a few more taster days at a local centre.


Also you will need the following:

LOT and LOTS of land.
The ability to fly at least 5 times a week
The ability to dispatch (kill) any quarry you catch
The passion and commitment for roughly 15 years (about the life span of a hawk)
Do not think of it as a PET....a good hawk is a working animal as close to its natural state as humanly possible

Before getting my HH I spent around £3000 and waited for at least 18 months before he arrived.

Others may do it differently and perhaps spend less. But to do a hawk justice takes ONE HELL OF A COMMITMENT. I think of it as like having a small child and all the responsibility that brings.

Good luck in convincing your daughter NO............hard work teenagers :cool: :lol: :rolleyes: :cool:

Ben

[Renton]

Best to make it a huge 'No'!

Apart from the fact that a Harris' can live for at least 20+ years and your daughter wants to go to university (who will look after the bird), there are a multitude of other problems to overcome.

For example: where to fly/hunt the bird (not a public park), time, aviary/mews, a local avian vet, knowledge (training course at a local falconry centre?), a mentor, all of these should be addressed well before contemplating taking on a bird. Not something to be rushed into.

[Saker-Clive]

If you have a Falconry Centre near to you, it might be a good idea to go and visit a few times and try and get your daughter a volunteers job at the centre; this will not only give her the experience in handling the birds and flying them, it will show her what it takes to look after them!! This will give you time to make your mind up if you are going to, at a later date get a bird.
It might quench her desire to get a bird so soon but there again, it might make her all the more headstrong!!!!! Also look to see if there are any clubs in the area.
As for living in built up areas, I think 90% of us live in towns etc. good luck.

[Renton]

If you have a Falconry Centre near to you, it might be a good idea to go and visit a few times and try and get your daughter a volunteers job at the centre; this will not only give her the experience in handling the birds and flying them, it will show her what it takes to look after them!! This will give you time to make your mind up if you are going to, at a later date get a bird.
It might quench her desire to get a bird so soon but there again, it might make her all the more headstrong!!!!! Also look to see if there are any clubs in the area.
As for living in built up areas, I think 90% of us live in towns etc. good luck.

Excellent advice!

[Pitbull]

Hi, We have loved bops since we where in our teens. We have just got our first bird in our 30's as we both knew we couldn't do it in the past. We now have our own business which means we can fly the bird when ever we want about 2-3 hrs daily at the moment. We live with the countryside on our doorstep open the door your there and we have 2 friends that have a falconry centre that are ours mentors and they are brill. With all that we have a happy healthy bird and hopefully it will have a great life with us and we can enjoy watching it do what it does best. It is horrible when you can't do something you love but some things are definetly worth waiting. Cause when the time is right it all comes together and its a joy. Now we have 3 kids that love it as much as us and we do it as a family. If she loves the birds it will come and the passion will grow and it will be awesome when she finally gets her first bird and she will be reading to commit to it. Good luck. Jakki

[AndyYounger]

Hi There
You are obviously in a difficult situation, however the only real options are quite simle.
i dont think that anyone should own a hawk or any BOP without the means to look after and fly the bird properly.
living in a mid terrace isnt that big a problem for a harris as long as you can build a suitible muse.
If i were to give any advice it would be to go to a local falconry center and enquire about courses and equipment. First of all you daughter would find this to be quite costly. This is without even buying a bird.
if this dosnt put her off she could try doing some volentry work at a center.
This will show her the work and preperation that is involved, not just the hunting and flying side.
there will no doubt be a brittish falconers club reigon in your area or another club where she could approach and find dates for meets etc. There,the falconers would again give her and yourself an insight into what it is like to keep a raptor properly. not just keeping it alive and flying in now and again!

Dont get me wrong, the sport is fantastic and the rewards are superb. i would encourage anyone to get involved in the sport. But only to the level that their lifestyle will allow.

i hope this can help a little

[Turumti]

I think the lass is hooked. No amount of propaganda will make her sway. I have been there, and have the scars to prove it. I think rather than chasing her away, UK falconers should welcome her in their fold and give her the encouragement and advice she needs. Set her up for success not failure. Most old-timers love ridiculing newbies and it serves no purpose at all.

Falconry is a dying sport and we need new blood.

[Canon Fodder]

Well first, a big thank you. What a fantastic forum. I was not expecting such a overwhelming response. Why aren't you guys out with your birds?

Never-mind, I'm glad you all took the time to answer my post. Well Katie and I have sat down and read all your advice so far, and now it's time to go away and have a long talk.

Not sure how it will go... Watch this space!

[MattSpar]

How about getting involved yourself and looking after the bird with your daughter? That way it will still be cared for whilst your daughter attends to her school work. After all, what are fathers for?

[MickeyDredd]

I think rather than chasing her away, UK falconers should welcome her in their fold and give her the encouragement and advice she needs. Set her up for success not failure. Most old-timers love ridiculing newbies and it serves no purpose at all.


Turumti

i dont think anyone is chasing her away or ridiculing her at all. the point people are making here is that there are many factors to consider before taking on a hawk at such a young age.

Firstly, as Renton said, what will happen to the hawk in 3 years time when Katie goes to University, albeit Dad is keen will he want to take on the full time management of the hawk. Will her chosen career post-graduation allow her the time and the location for her to carry on her sport?
Katie is too young to drive - how will she get from her home to suitable hawking ground (once sourced) without Dad's help, big commitment for Dad also this falconry ;)
Many other factors as previously posted.

Katie, i know its difficult to be patient but i would agree with others who have suggested trying to get hands-on by assisting at a centre for the time being.

[Wightwings]

apologies if this has been said i just skirted thro......NO...your not into the sport.....your daughter may be but she is 15........yet to discover boys.....booze.....and college....etc etc..( im a parent i know too:roll: )....a BoP is a totally diff prospect to a dog.cat.......etc ...I trully hope she enjoys and eventually takes up the sport but at this stage unless you have to time and knowledge to commit to it also i would discourage ( and i know how difficult that can be too)....

just my opinion but whatever you do all the best

[Hacker]

I`m afraid i have to agree, too much of a commitment at her age with wanting to go to University.
And she is just coming up for her exams.
If she gets a bird it will probably be a 2006 bird so you wouldn`t get it till later in the year and then as she starts to train it, term time will of come around again and she will have to get her head in the books to study for her exams.
Then after these she will leave school, take a quick break and then start University for x years.
I think the only way it will work is if you both get into Falconry, with you doing the main work and then getting your daughter to get involved during holidaybreak times.
If after her scholar years she stills wants to pursue falconry then all well and good.
She will be able to get advice from you then as you will have a few years under your belt by then.
Good luck.

[Sean]

ohh and another thing, does the misses liek cuddly ferrets? they make great pets and kids love em...and they make excellent hunting partners lol

[Kentish Falconry]

Hi Canon Fodder......

First may I welcome you to the Forum and I hope you find an answer here to your Questions.

I have to commende you for coming onto a Forum like this and being upfront with us all on your problem. Whilst most of the guys on here are really helpfull you will find others that can't even agree on what day of the week it is.
I agree with almost all that has been posted up to this point and you have recieved some sound advice. If you do decide to continue then I agree that some time spent as a volanteer at a Centre would do your Daughter a lot of good but my feelings are that you will end up holding the Baby (in this case Harris Hawk) in the long run, so it would also be necessary for you to go along to the Centre with her to get yourself up to speed.
If you can find a good club in your area then joining this would also be a good idea.
It is not an imposible task for your Daughter to own and fly a HH of her own but it would mean a lot of commitment on your part and the first question you have to ask yourself is can I find time to devote to a bird because when she is not about you and/or your wife will have to look after the bird and take it hunting or at the very least exercise it, do you have land available for hunting on, where is the nearest vet that would even know which end of the bird he is supposed to be looking at.
The Forum members will give you as much advice as they can and help you locate all the equipment you will need, but first things first are you willing to get involved? because if not then you have to say a very firm NO to her.
I know exactley what you are going through, my Daughter is 15 and a very accomplished Falconer but she finds it difficult during the winter to get home from School fly her bird and then get stuck into her homework and studys have to come first as she has already started takeing her exams and she needs good results to get into her chosen career.
Hope you can make the right decission between you and whatever you decide the best of luck to you.
Regards
Terry:supz:

[Pitbull]

As jakki said I have my own company, and even though i have just received a large order it is too easy for me too look outside and say " sod this Im going out with my HH " So when it comes too studying If she was\ to have a HH or any BOP she may well feel the same way, which may affect her outcome.
BUT saying that there is never a good time or a bad time I think. You bcan always talk yourself out of things. Remember, its not just the university that she must think about but also the career that she is planning. Will this allow her time to give the bird the time it needs.
Good luck. We a have a 13 year old daughter that wants a Buzzard. And she cant understand why she cant have one when we have a HH

[Dave G]

all good advise given hawks need time putting into them,there are plenty of centres and falconers about who are happy to let people go hunting with them ,this would sort out your little prob if your daughter could go hawking with someone when she has time then once uni or college has finished who knows she might have changed her mind ,if not then she will be an adult who has a sound mind ,lol not saying she has not know as too many people rush out to buy hawks which then end up in a avery or shed doing nothing but eating and shitting not fair on the bird but the owner still has a trophy to show his mates ???

[Dude]

hey guys I started 2 fly birds when I was 10-11yrs old and yet I am studiing in a university and still flying more than one bird in most of the times..... I dont have a day when I dont fly exept when I have to go to the hospital when I was having operations from accidents etc. I never miss a class and I was having quite good exams, so if she thinks she's life is 4 falconry(I also interested in all of htte raptors since when I was 4-5yrs old) and she just wanna fly and study its not a problem.... but in the other hand most of the peeps what I have met and they started falconry I helped them, but non of them fly yet...... its not a sport or a hobby its a lifestyle if sumbody do it correctly. When I was studiing in high school and elementary school I just go in the school when I was having exams and I go there with BOPs :D yet in the university I go with my MHH 2 do an exam. okay he wait 4 me in the car, but when I finished the exam I put up the jet engine on my suzuki lol than go hawkin'!

Dan.

[Tim Laycock]

Start attending a local falconry club, thats the best advice you will get.

I started out at eight years old, got involved with a club straight away and I still hawking 20 years later.

[MattSpar]

Start attending a local falconry club, thats the best advice you will get.

I started out at eight years old, got involved with a club straight away and I still hawking 20 years later.

Good advice. I too started at around that age, though I've never been a joiner of clubs and societies. In my case, my long suffering parents, and some kind falconer friends proved invaluable, and I'm still at it 50 years on.

[Canon Fodder]

Well thanks again for all your advice. The response has been tremendous. The outcome to date, after a some very generous offers from forum members, is that Katie and I are going to spend a day with a local falconer; including hunting. That way she gets to help feed birds weeners (She has two pet rats!) and experiance the reality of a cute fluffy bunny (or whatever else gets caught) becoming lunch, as well as get a first hand view on how much hard work and commitment is involved.

How it will all go I have no idea. But I promise to keep you all posted.

[Kentish Falconry]

Well thanks again for all your advice. The response has been tremendous. The outcome to date, after a some very generous offers from forum members, is that Katie and I are going to spend a day with a local falconer; including hunting. That way she gets to help feed birds weeners (She has two pet rats!) and experiance the reality of a cute fluffy bunny (or whatever else gets caught) becoming lunch, as well as get a first hand view on how much hard work and commitment is involved.

How it will all go I have no idea. But I promise to keep you all posted.

Hi CF thank you for the update. I hope it all turns out well for you both. Enjoy your time out with the Hawks it's all well worth it in the end.
Regards
Terry:supz:

[FalconMistress]

hey im am 15 and have been around animals all my life especially birds i have been very fortunate to have been brought up in the country and i must say u are in a difficult possion but i must say i know people who live in flats and are very succesful with their birds.

[Palmer]

Im 15 and i have just been given my first harris hawk by my dads best mate. I spent alot of time with my dads mate and lernt as much as i needed to for the time being. but as time went on i had to ring him alot of times and i am still learning. but my hawk is a very good bird now catching rabbits, pheseants etc.
i would recomend your daughter to learn as much as she can first then see what she thinks about the idea. Buy some books.

[Harrisii]

If you have a Falconry Centre near to you, it might be a good idea to go and visit a few times and try and get your daughter a volunteers job at the centre; this will not only give her the experience in handling the birds and flying them, it will show her what it takes to look after them!! This will give you time to make your mind up if you are going to, at a later date get a bird.
It might quench her desire to get a bird so soon but there again, it might make her all the more headstrong!!!!! Also look to see if there are any clubs in the area.
As for living in built up areas, I think 90% of us live in towns etc. good luck.

spot on advise. well said.
we could be talking about the next jammima parry jones, emma ford or diana durham walters

[Euan]

...Also you will need the following:

LOT and LOTS of land.
The ability to fly at least 5 times a week...


Ben

Sorry if this seems a bit of a thread hijack but could someone expand on this

Lots of land - a big bit of land? or lots of different bits of land for variety?

5 times a week - for how long each time? are you tied to a specific time of day?

[Kanati]

Sorry if this seems a bit of a thread hijack but could someone expand on this

Lots of land - a big bit of land? or lots of different bits of land for variety?

5 times a week - for how long each time? are you tied to a specific time of day?

' a lot of land ' means just that. go out and get as much land as you can to fly over and then go out and get some more. You will soon get bored with the same land even if its good. I would say you want to get over 1000achres to start(but thats just me) and then you will naturally aquire more after you have the bird and meet new people etc.

the time factor is just as much time as you can spare the better. if thats once a week, then dont bother. Twice is still not really enough. Three days or more is what you really should aim for. the more often and the longer each time the better the hawk will become.

Hope that helps

[Moses]

Best to make it a huge 'No'!

Apart from the fact that a Harris' can live for at least 20+ years and your daughter wants to go to university (who will look after the bird), there are a multitude of other problems to overcome.

For example: where to fly/hunt the bird (not a public park), time, aviary/mews, a local avian vet, knowledge (training course at a local falconry centre?), a mentor, all of these should be addressed well before contemplating taking on a bird. Not something to be rushed into.


i agree with renton mate, soon as the harris comes in, education is gonna go out the window and whats gonna happen when she discovers a hunky boyfriend, its like giving your kids a pet for xmas and u know what happens afterwards, it will get neglected and not flown

if she can maybe speak to some local falconers and u and her go out hunting wae them or something

[Euan]

Thanks that helps a lot, when you put it like that it's obvious! I was wondering if the bit of land I shoot on would be big enough - but the same bit EVERY day is going to get boring pretty quick.

The time factor is exactly what I'm trying to figure out, I've read a lot of conflicting stuff but want to be making informed choices. If its something I'm going to pursue I don't want to be aiming for "adequate" if you see what I mean!

If being a "good" BoP owner means hunting for 4-5 hrs every afternoon thats a very different thing to 1-2 hrs most mornings.

[Palmer]

i agree with renton mate, soon as the harris comes in, education is gonna go out the window and whats gonna happen when she discovers a hunky boyfriend, its like giving your kids a pet for xmas and u know what happens afterwards, it will get neglected and not flown


This may not be the case though as alot of teenagers i know that have birds look after/fly there birds just as much as the other bloke.

[LanczSpringer]

I was facinated by BOP and falconry from the age of about 6!

I read books and never really forgot about falconry, even when I did discover the ladies, booze and the likes!!

However I did take my time over getting a bird, joined a local club (the British Falconers Club, meets the other side of preston) and spent a couple of seasons going out just watching, helping / hindering and asking lots of questions.

I didn't go to university but studied for my HNC and degree part-time one day a week sponsered by work, my goal was that at the end I would get myself a bird!

Last year I picked up Cosmo a 2005 male harris and had a great first season flying last year!

I live quite close, Kirkham, I will try to sort a coulpe of hours flying for you once the season starts and cosmo has finnished his moult.

Get yourself along to the BFC north west region and get on some field meets, it may be that hunting with a BOP is not all that you expected?

Anthony

[Ben C]

Go with Lanczs...cosmo is a belter of a hawk!

[Freddie1]

I think the lass is hooked. No amount of propaganda will make her sway. I have been there, and have the scars to prove it. I think rather than chasing her away, UK falconers should welcome her in their fold and give her the encouragement and advice she needs. Set her up for success not failure. Most old-timers love ridiculing newbies and it serves no purpose at all.

Falconry is a dying sport and we need new blood.
top answer and we are suffering in our club from a very small amount of young blood I am very proud to have two young daughters that are very very comitted to there birds and I would'nt have it any other way!!!!
Well said mate:supz:

[Argee]

Hi, I am the father of a 15-year-old daughter who has had a passion for hawks since the age of 5. Every falconry experience she could attend, she did, as well as being a regular visitor of the Hawk Conservancy in Hampshire before I moved the family north.

We have just returned from a short holiday at the Center Parc in Whinfell Forest, Cumbria. While there my daughter went on two ‘Hawk Walks’ that are provided by a member of the Lakeland Bird of Prey Centre, Cumbria. On these walks a group of fifteen or so people are taken for a short walk around the woods with a Harris hawk called Bob. Bob’s handler gave all an opportunity to fly the bird, who between taking morsels from the glove, tried hard to make a dent in the local rabbit population.

All this fired up my daughters desire to own a bird of her own, and so she starts pumping Bob’s handler on what she needs to do. As the proud father of two children as well as the owner of a dog, a cat and two very friendly fancy rats, the prospect of adding a Harris Hawk to the menagerie has me asking lots of questions too.

Now I have to admit that I’m not sure where my loyalties are on this one. My daughter is very bright, doing well at school, and aiming for a good university. Homework is always done, her room is usually tidy (Remember this is a teenager we are talking about!) and she has always looked after her animal charges in the past. I thoroughly enjoyed the ‘Walks’ too and there is more than a small part of me that would like to explore this fascinating lifestyle.

However, while Bob’s handler was keen to promote falconry, and seemed to dispel any parental objection I could rally, I am not totally convinced that we are able to look after such a bird properly. We live in a mid terrace house in Blackpool, not a rural location. I’m sure the local authorities would frown on my daughter flying a hawk in the local park, so where would we fly the bird?

Are there any members of this forum who live in built up locations? In fact I would welcome advice from anyone right now. HELP!

At present I’ve told my daughter that if she wants a hawk she can fund it herself. With no income (Yet), bar her pocket money, this is tantamount to a ‘no’ but she is a resourceful girl and if I need to turn this into a solid ‘NO’ I would prefer to do it sooner rather than later.

Sorry for posting such a long first entry. Hope someone can help, and thanks in advance if anyone does,
Yessssssssss...... I take me hat off to you .... great to hear of such care being exercised before launching upon possibly owning a B.o.P.

It's true that they desreve such thought and planning as posted in the replies BUT .... you can 'rub shoulders' and immerse yourselves without going down the Falconry path ..
Just looking after a damaged one that cannot be 'flown' but use good falconry husbandry to maintain it in good fettle can be very rewarding ..
All the best ,
(*v*) ...

[Sandeep]

Hi, I am the father of a 15-year-old daughter who has had a passion for hawks since the age of 5. Every falconry experience she could attend, she did, as well as being a regular visitor of the Hawk Conservancy in Hampshire before I moved the family north.

We have just returned from a short holiday at the Center Parc in Whinfell Forest, Cumbria. While there my daughter went on two ‘Hawk Walks’ that are provided by a member of the Lakeland Bird of Prey Centre, Cumbria. On these walks a group of fifteen or so people are taken for a short walk around the woods with a Harris hawk called Bob. Bob’s handler gave all an opportunity to fly the bird, who between taking morsels from the glove, tried hard to make a dent in the local rabbit population.

All this fired up my daughters desire to own a bird of her own, and so she starts pumping Bob’s handler on what she needs to do. As the proud father of two children as well as the owner of a dog, a cat and two very friendly fancy rats, the prospect of adding a Harris Hawk to the menagerie has me asking lots of questions too.

Now I have to admit that I’m not sure where my loyalties are on this one. My daughter is very bright, doing well at school, and aiming for a good university. Homework is always done, her room is usually tidy (Remember this is a teenager we are talking about!) and she has always looked after her animal charges in the past. I thoroughly enjoyed the ‘Walks’ too and there is more than a small part of me that would like to explore this fascinating lifestyle.

However, while Bob’s handler was keen to promote falconry, and seemed to dispel any parental objection I could rally, I am not totally convinced that we are able to look after such a bird properly. We live in a mid terrace house in Blackpool, not a rural location. I’m sure the local authorities would frown on my daughter flying a hawk in the local park, so where would we fly the bird?

Are there any members of this forum who live in built up locations? In fact I would welcome advice from anyone right now. HELP!

At present I’ve told my daughter that if she wants a hawk she can fund it herself. With no income (Yet), bar her pocket money, this is tantamount to a ‘no’ but she is a resourceful girl and if I need to turn this into a solid ‘NO’ I would prefer to do it sooner rather than later.

Sorry for posting such a long first entry. Hope someone can help, and thanks in advance if anyone does,

My advice is .... Dont have to put her off the idea. Just educater her as to why she needs to hold back and get more knowledge and hands on experience. If the bug has bit her... There is little if nothing you could do about it. Its better that you make her understand the commitment this sport needs. Let her join some falconry centre and then have her bird.

One step at a a time...;-)

[Richard]

Welcome to the forum first off :)

I don't think that education will go out the window at all, im 17 and heavy into falconry and i stay in school :lol:

I was excersise (sp) her desire to take up falconry by looking at the less glamorous (sp again) side.

I'm lucky enough to have my dad who loves falconry aswell.

Its also worth pointing out that he is willing to travel to places to fly it.

[Nemesis]

Hi I am a farther to so have some knolage of kid,s one is
21 the other two are 17 and 11 if as you say she is a good kid there is lot,s of things she could be in a lot worse than keeping a bird of pray I live in a estate in a line of four houses have fair but not large garden and dont have to many problems get her some experance with bop a center or another falconer let her lern the problems as well as the good bit,s and amount of comitment needed if after this she is still keen help her as much as you canthere are far worse things she could like and a littlebit of give back for her
good work at school and home will work wonders hope this helps /dave

[Jackson]

being of similar age to your daughter when i first got interested i would ssay no to betting a bird at the moment!
i know exactly what presures hses under from exams, social life and family

its very hard to keep on top of that let a lone a bird

i was fortunate in that i had a local centre where i could go!

but as much as i wanted a bird i said no because like your daughter i too want to go to uni and knew that it wouldnt be fair to me or the bird to get one! i would have passed the bird on to some unknown soul and never seen it again - the bird would then have to start retraining etc and i would be more focused on the bird than school. my work and grades would fall and uni would be out of the question!

falconry is in the blood and wont go away that quickly just hold on Katie find local falconers, clubs and centres to help out!

[RedNoseK9]

The best thing is to get her out as much as possible falconry centres asking questions and on courses etc ...
Then she will understand i got my first bird at 15 never did a course just saw the breeder every day for 7 months and he thought i was ready i got my bird and we did great however if your daughter is considering university i would say the best thing is to get her as actively involved in falconry as u can over the next year and if in a year she still wants one and knows the implications it may have on her university studys then consider getting a bird once you get this bug it will never go away but a year to wait is nothing and will show her commitment plus your daughter is young and when i was that age i didnt really know who i was let alone what i wanted to do and i am sure i neglected my birds needs slightly to go out with friends or have a drink down the park etc..
over the next year she will learn alot about who she is and if she sticks to it shell learn valuble things about falconry which will profit her when does get a bird.
Encourage her passion mate but with educ

ation as well get her on here and if there are any field meets or things happening im sure shell be more than welcome

get her to come on an introduce herself say hi

and get her asking questions

Wez