Raptor Award Falconry Course

We are pleased to be the only hotel in the UK to offer a Raptor Award Short Course Experience which leads to a certificate of completion.

This two-night residential course is designed to expand the knowledge on bird of prey handling, maintenance and health. On completion of the course, attendees will receive a Raptor Award Experience Certificate. Raptor Awards are the only accredited awarding body for falconry in the UK, and only certified assessors can conduct these courses.

Our Falconry Course Package

• 2.5-3 hour training session with accredited Raptor Award Assessor, Jess Craven
• Two-nights’ accommodation
• A £45 allocation per person towards dinner in our Brasserie Restaurant one evening of your stay
• A locally sourced full Yorkshire breakfast each morning of your stay

Course Price

From £990.00 per couple.

*A minimum of two paying guests are required for the course to run.

EMAIL TO BOOK

Please contact our reservations team to enquire about available dates and to make a booking. Call 01756 718111 or hit the email to book button below.

Course Content

Feeding

This part of the course will focus on providing your birds with a varied diet, that includes a range of different foods and their nutritional values. Learning about food intake in relation to energy expelled and how diets need to be adjusted depending on the time of the year (e.g. breeding) and climate changes. Our instructors will also delve into weight maintenance and comparison to the overall health of the bird.

General Maintenance

Furniture upkeep and replacement. Tracking and transmitter fitting options, and the pros and cons involved in doing so. How to clean and disinfect food prep areas, shelters and perches. Learning about different shelter styles and which is appropriate for free lofting, breeding and tethering.

Health

The instructors will talk participants through the most common health conditions, correctly diagnosing parasite problems and appropriate treatments. Learn to spot the tell-tail signs of an unhealthy bird and other potential health hazards. Delving into how weight and the food birds eat plays a huge role in the health of the bird and the importance of fresh water.

Handling

Course attendees will learn how to pick up birds correctly and safely and maintaining stability on the glove.  Instructors will also go over different perching options and their suitability.

Training

A quick lesson on how to train a hawk, bringing together the food and weight maintenance and observation at each step of training and how to know when its suitable to free-fly. Including, how attention to detail is vital at all steps in training.

Flying

Covering how to choose where is suitable to fly, weather conditions to look out for and also potential threats/obstacles. A talk-through on carrying out a thorough risk assessment each time before flying.

About the instructor

Our experiences are available all year round and run by accredited Raptor Award Assessor and renowned falconer, Jess Craven. Jess has over 15 year’s experience with birds of prey, including working for one of the UK’s largest eagle and vulture display teams, and has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all things birds of prey.

Terms & Conditions:

From price is based on two people sharing a room. All the courses require guests to wear suitable outdoor clothing and footwear – no animal fur. In the event of strong wind/rain we can offer a refund or reschedule the experience. Falconry Services staff will be on site a minimum of 15min prior to the experience. Falconry Services are fully insured for private and public handling. The birds used are highly experienced and confident. Falconry Services are the first and only RA Assessors to offer the Raptor Awards Experience Course. AAL (Animal Activities License) awarded by North Yorkshire Council. They always work in accordance with the Bird of Prey standards of Welfare.