What is an essential skill a falconer must possess?

Proper bird care techniques are essential for a falconer because the health and well-being of the bird directly influences its performance, behavior, and the overall success of falconry as a practice. Falconers must understand how to maintain their birds’ physical health through appropriate feeding, housing, and routine veterinary care. This includes knowledge of nutritional needs, ensuring that the bird has a balanced diet, and recognizing signs of illness or stress. By providing proper care, a falconer establishes a strong bond of trust and respect with their bird, which is vital for effective training and hunting.

While flying a bird, understanding bird anatomy, and employing effective hunting strategies are all important skills for a falconer, they rely heavily on the foundation established through proper bird care. Without this foundational knowledge, the efficacy of flying and hunting would diminish, as a bird that is not well cared for is unlikely to perform optimally.