As Head Falconer at Go Active Falconry, my days are filled with a variety of tasks and responsibilities that involve the care and training of the birds, as well as the management of the Falconry Centre and working with visitors to the farm with shows and bird of prey experiences. It’s so full and varied I wanted to tell you all about it. So here it is, a day in the life of me, Falconer Simon.

6:00 am – I start my day by preparing all the food for all the birds that live with me in the home facility ensuring that they all have a varied diet and that they are all in good condition. I then drive to the falconry centre at the Farm, where I do the first walk round of the day checking on all the birds and ensuring they are all healthy and well-rested. I then check all the equipment that I’ll need for the days activities and experiences.

8.00am – Now its time to make sure the Falconry Centre is clean and tidy ready for the first visitors of the day. This means cleaning and disinfecting, sweeping, tidying inside all the enclosures and outside too. I am very proud of the Falconry Centre so always want it to look perfect every day!

10:00am –  10 o clock is opening time so we need to be ready to go! Then at 10:30am I welcome the first Bird of Prey Encounter booking. Once I have greeted them and welcomed them, it is time to introduce them to the birds, providing an overview of the history of falconry and explaining the different types of birds they will be working with. We then start the hands-on experience, learning how to handle and fly the birds under my guidance. I always make sure that the whole group gets ample time with the birds, and provide detailed instruction on how to properly handle and care for them. As well as making sure they having fun. I love to see the look on their faces when they get close and handle the magnificent birds.

12:00pm – The midday break provides an opportunity for me to take stock and to spend some time with the birds. It is important to make sure they are all in good health and good spirits too. This is also one of my favourite times as the birds are my passion and I still get the buzz from spending time with them as I always did!

1:00pm – It is now time to prep for the main event of the day. The Falconry Show! This is when I really need to focus and ensure the birds get my full attention. It is vital that the birds follow a routine and that they know they are safe and are about to fly. I prepare everything down to the smallest detail to make sure the birds are happy.

2:00pm – It’s show time!! On weekends and holidays the Falconry Show is the highlight of my day. It is so much fun. I love the audience interaction and making the show as fun and awe-inspiring as possible. I like to make sure I show an exciting range of the birds. Blue, the little Scops owl, Chesney, the Harris Hawk (that’s right, Chesney Hawk) and Albus the European Eagle owl are always favourites!

2:45pm – I’m straight from the show to more Bird of Prey encounters. Its a nice change of pace and another chance for me to educate and pass on my passion to future generations of bird lovers.

5:00pm – After a full day of activities, me and the team begin the process of cleaning and packing up the equipment. We make sure the birds are well-fed and comfortable before ending the day.

6:00pm – The day is nearly done so time to plan for tomorrow! I also prepare the birds food for the morning and get ready to do the whole thing again. Its a long day, hard work, but I love it! I wouldn’t change it for the world.

But for now, goodnight everyone.

Falconer Simon.