Falconry

Falconry is an ancient "sport of kings". Widely practised in the Middle Ages, it has fallen out of favor in recent decades, thanks mainly to the expense of maintaining a collection, or mews, of birds. The relentless urbanization of our cities and towns has also led to an overall reduction in the number of predatory birds, and those birds that remain extant have by necessity learned to mistrust mankind.

Falconry in the Middle Ages

Falconry was a popular pastime in medieval England, and in Europe more generally. No nobleman's castle would have been deemed complete without at least one mews, and the office of court falconer was a highly esteemed position. The falconer's responsibilities were to exercise the birds daily, and to tutor young lords and princes in the art of the hunt. A nobleman's son would typically begin his education at age ten or eleven; it might take years to master the sport.

Medieval princes hunted mainly for sport. The procurement of meaty victuals for the banquet table was left to the gamekeepers: professional huntsmen employed by the throne. Venison, of course, would be hunted with bow and arrow on horseback; beef would be supplied by peasant farmers; and fish would be taken from the rivers by hook and line; but the fowls of the air that arrived at the royal dinner table would in all likelihood be the products of the falconer's art. Falcons were as well used to procure rabbits, or conies, and other palatable rodents.

Falconry today

Falconry is rarely practiced in this modern age, due to its expense and the dedication required to train a bird. There is also something of a social pressure: the budding falconer may find himself the butt of jokes by his friends, who prefer to stick to their four-legged pets and store-bought victuals. On the other hand, a perseverant student of falconry will really have something to show off.

If you are interested in getting involved in falconry, try looking for falconry clubs in your area, finding information about it on the internet or contacting an experienced falconer.