I’ve always felt a bit uneasy about falconry but when a chance to fly some owls at Cheshire Falconry came along I decide it was time to find out more
 Dave – the young female Tawny Owl |
 Adult Little Owl. After years of watching Little Owls through binoculars and telescopes it was still a surprise to realise just how small they are. Likewise the relatively weak, fluttering flight. |
 Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl Native to Africa when this Owl came swooping in to land on the gauntlet the sheer power and strength of those talons was unmistakeable. Slightly smaller than the European Eagle Owl ! |
 Male Snowy Owl. |
 Dinner (young chicken) |
 Great Grey Owl |
 Peregrine |
| The one that got away?
Despite a lack of Jesses this bird is a presumed escapee from a Falconer. The Bowland birds did successfully breed however after the remains of a Hen Harrier was found in the nest the partially fledged chicks disappeared. More info |
Personally I still feel uneasy with the idea of keeping any bird captive. However if they can’t be returned or reintroduced to their natural environment I can appreciate a role for them in raising awareness and the need for conservation of their wild relatives. I’m just not convinced that Falconry is a particularly effective way of doing it.