Falconry Welfare: Ancient Practice and Modern Standards

Falconry is one of the world oldest relationships between humans and birds of prey, recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. Its welfare implications depend heavily on practitioner knowledge and the standards applied to bird keeping and training.

Key Facts

Falconry has been practised for at least 4,000 years across Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and East Asia
The International Association for Falconry (IAF) represents falconers in over 80 countries
Birds used in falconry include peregrine falcons, Harris hawks, eagles, and owls — a wide range of species with differing welfare needs
Poorly practised falconry causes welfare problems including chronic stress from inadequate handling, hunger from weight management errors, and boredom from insufficient flying
Well-practised falconry provides birds with daily hunting activity, mental stimulation, and social interaction with a skilled handler
Weight management — keeping birds at flying weight — requires expertise: too light causes weakness, too heavy reduces motivation to hunt
The UK Falconry and Raptor Board provides training and standards for registered falconers
Wild-caught raptors are legal in some countries for falconry purposes but must be captive-bred in the UK

Welfare Considerations

Falconry welfare is highly dependent on practitioner skill and commitment. Birds in the care of experienced, knowledgeable falconers can have good welfare — regular flight, mental stimulation from hunting, and a stable, predictable relationship with their handler. Birds in the care of inexperienced or negligent practitioners can experience chronic hunger (from weight management errors), boredom from inadequate exercise, and stress from rough handling. The welfare variance between best and worst practice is very large. UK regulations require captive-bred birds with ring identification, and the falconry community has developed welfare standards through the IAF and national organisations. The most welfare-relevant advocacy for falconry is ensuring that practitioner training and regulatory oversight are sufficient to enforce minimum standards consistently.

What You Can Do

Support UK Falconry and Raptor Board standards and training requirements for new falconers
Report suspected poor falconry welfare to the RSPCA and local authority
Engage with the falconry community on welfare best practice through IAF publications and events
Advocate for mandatory welfare training before any raptor is licensed to a new falconer
Support captive breeding requirements for all falconry birds to prevent wild population pressure
Never purchase raptors for falconry without verifying legal captive-bred documentation
Donate to British Falconers Club and IAF welfare education programmes