Outside nature documentaries, it’s rare for you to get the chance to see a predator doing what it does naturally; but falconry does just this, giving you the chance to handle birds of prey as they go searching for food in the wild.

Falconry is the art of using trained birds of prey to hunt, and in the course of a lesson you may get to handle eagles, kites, falcons, owls, harriers and buzzards. Every species has its own characteristics and responds to different ways of handling, and you will learn how to build up empathy with each one. Older children will love the thrill of hawks and owls swooping in to land on their fists.

But the birds aren’t like performing animals at a theme park, trained to do tricks. Instead, they follow their instincts – swooping, soaring and pouncing, and showing off their precise eyesight (some birds of prey can spot a small frog over a quarter of a mile away). Historically, falconry was the sport of medieval noblemen, though now it’s available for anyone to appreciate – either through watching displays or taking a course.

You don’t need any special clothing: falconry centres will provide you with the special protective gloves you wear to offer to the birds as a perch. They’ll also teach you a little about the history of falconry, the types of birds, tools and equipment and how to handle the birds before taking you outside and letting you try it for yourself. Food is the key to getting birds of prey to do what you ask them and to return to them. You’ll be taught how to give them tasty morsels to reward them for their efforts.

There are falconry centres around the country offering lessons and talks. Try the Sussex Falconry Centre (www.sussexfalconrycentre.co.uk), Discover Falconry (www.discover-falconry.com) in North Yorkshire and the Coniston Falconry Centre (www.theconistonfalconry.co.uk) which will tailor-make a course according to your family’s interests.

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