Falconry — the hunting of prey using trained raptors — is one of the oldest human-animal partnerships, with welfare standards that vary widely by practitioner.
Welfare in falconry depends almost entirely on practitioner skill and commitment. Well-practiced falconry involves birds that are fit, behaviorally active, and free to hunt. Poor practices including inadequate feeding, inappropriate housing, and lack of flight time cause serious welfare problems. The high level of individual knowledge required means that regulatory oversight focusing on demonstrated competency rather than just equipment standards is most effective.