A falconer is someone who trains and hunts with falcons, hawks, or other birds of prey. This ancient practice, called falconry, goes back thousands of years. A falconer forms a partnership with their bird, teaching it to fly free, hunt small game like rabbits or quail, and return on command.

Training a falcon takes enormous patience and skill. The falconer must earn the bird's trust while respecting that it remains wild at heart. Unlike a pet dog that naturally wants to please its owner, a falcon chooses to cooperate with its falconer because it has learned to associate the person with food and safety. The bird perches on the falconer's thick leather glove and may wear tiny bells so the falconer can track it by sound when it flies high overhead.

Falconry was once essential for hunting food and was considered a noble sport in medieval times. Today, falconers practice it for conservation, education, and the thrill of working with these magnificent predators. Becoming a falconer requires years of study, special permits, and deep dedication to the welfare of the birds.