Mercer Falconry

12/06/2026

Thinking about getting into falconry but not sure where to start?

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is focusing on getting a bird before building the knowledge, skills and experience needed to care for one properly.
That's exactly why we've created our FREE "How To Get Started In Falconry" Guide.

Inside you'll discover:
✅ The best first step before owning a bird
✅ Why hands-on experience matters
✅ Essential books every beginner should read
✅ How volunteering can accelerate your learning
✅ The value of accredited falconry training
✅ Finding mentors and joining the falconry community
✅ A clear roadmap to becoming a knowledgeable and responsible falconer

Download your free copy today by scanning the QR code below (link also in the comments).

10/06/2026

10/06/2026

Why are owls so messy looking?

Owl plumage is very fluffy and messy compared to other birds of prey. This isn’t because owls are too lazy to neaten themselves, it is actually one of their adaptations for silent flight. Their feathers are very wispy and are not as streamlined as the likes of a falcon's feathers.
When a non-owl bird species takes off, their wings create two large swirls of air known as wingtip vortices. These swirls create the whooshing sound we hear when a bird flies by. Because owls have all these wispy feathers poking out, it actually creates thousands of tiny little swirls of air; the more swirls, and the smaller they are, the less sound we can hear.

📸- Simon Bird

07/06/2026

Big changes are Coming to Falconry Course

Dan and Cerys are currently hard at work building the next generation of Falconry Course, and we are both really excited to announce that our brand new training programme will officially launch on the 1st of August! (we hope because we still have lots of work to do on it 😬)

Over the past months we have been redesigning the way people can learn falconry. We want to make learning more flexible, more accessible, and more effective for modern falconers.

New Online Learning Area

Students will receive access to a dedicated online learning platform where they can work through the complete Raptor Awards theory syllabus at their own pace, including:

✅ 9 professionally structured theory presentations covering all Raptor Awards modules
✅ A comprehensive companion study guide
✅ Downloadable worksheets and learning activities
✅ Additional learning resources and reference materials
✅ Access to a dedicated WhatsApp community for support, questions and discussion with fellow students and instructors

No more trying to absorb everything on a single 5 day course. Learn the theory when it suits you, revisit topics whenever needed, and arrive prepared for the practical elements.

New Practical Lesson System at Mercer Falconry

We're also introducing a completely new practical training pathway.
Rather than attending a fixed block course, students will be able to book:

✅ Private 1-hour lessons
✅ Private 2-hour lessons

One-to-one instruction, tailored to individual progress. Each student will receive a practical progress workbook, allowing them to work through every skill required for the Raptor Awards practical assessment. As your confidence and competence grow, you can tick off each practical element until you are fully prepared for assessment.

Our new system allows students to:
• Learn theory at home in their own time
• Receive personalised practical instruction
• Progress at a pace that suits them
• Build genuine confidence before assessment
• Join a growing community of aspiring falconers

Both Dan and Cerys cannot wait to show you what we've been building.

📅 Launch Date: 1st August

Keep an eye on our page over the coming weeks as we'll be sharing sneak peeks, previews and more details about the new Falconry Course experience!

06/06/2026

We’ve been working on getting Whip the Barn Owl to hover!

Barn owls will naturally hover whilst hunting, they will be scanning the area below for any sound to pin point exactly where their prey is.

We are early days with this training, over time we will slowly extend the length of the hover before we reward her. So far, we are very pleased with Whip’s progress 😁

To see Whip, and even fly her yourself, visit the Mercer Falconry website to book an experience today!

03/06/2026

There are a lot of species where the adult males and females look different, this is known as sexual dimorphism. Some famous examples would be peacocks and peahens; the males have the beautiful blue plumage and striking tail, whilst the females are brown all over. Male mallard ducks have a stunning blueish green head and the females are brown. This sexual dimorphism can also be seen in some bird of prey species.

Female adult Eurasian Kestrels are rusty brown all over, whilst the adult males have a blueish grey head and tail. Whilst the males may look prettier, it’s actually not very helpful colouration and is known as a maladaptive trait. This means it is not helpful to survival. The blue feathers make camouflage more difficult, making them an easier target for predators and competition. However, this characteristic does have its silver linings! It can be quite attractive to the females; the blue head and tail signifies a mature and healthy male. The females want to pass on the best genetics onto their young, so by seeing that this male has survived with this maladaptive trait, they must have some pretty good genes. It suggests that they are good at hunting and evading predators as they have been able to survive despite this unhelpful plumage. The female also wants to be provided for and protected, so again, a male who can survive on his own with this trait must be a great kestrel husband. The brighter the blue colouration, the more attractive the male is to the female as it suggests he is well fed.

You may notice that our female kestrel, Nora, looks a bit unusual! She has the typical rust red back, but a blue tail, and no blue head? We assume Nora is female based on weight- in birds of prey, the general rule is that the females are approximately a third of the size larger than the males (another form of sexual dimorphism!). The animal kingdom can be a little bit random, so based on weight and behaviour, Nora could be a female with a weird tail. We could get her DNA checked, but that requires plucking feathers. I personally am not willing to upset Nora, she’s only just started to accept me! -Cerys

📸- Simon Bird

31/05/2026

The results are in!

After tallying up all the votes from our naming poll, we can officially announce the names of our new burrowing owl chicks!

With an impressive 60% of the vote, the winning names are...

✨ Tumble & Bumble ✨

A huge thank you to everyone who took part and helped choose their names. We can't wait to share more updates as Tumble and Bumble continue to grow and explore the world!

28/05/2026

Well… most of you guessed Barn Owls

But our mystery chicks are actually BURROWING OWLS!

Tiny legs, big attitudes, and already causing chaos.

Now it’s time to name them… so we need your suggestions! Drop your ideas below!

27/05/2026

Why do some owl species have ear tufts?

These ear tufts have nothing to do with an owl’s ears (the ears are either side of their face, underneath their feathers!). These feathers are called plumicorns, and they have a number of purposes.

One of which is for camouflage; the plumicorns are said to break up an owl’s silhouette and make it look less like an owl. This is a helpful adaptation for ambush predators, it’s important that their prey does not see them! The plumicorns can also be stood up to make the owl look bigger and scarier, useful for if they feel threatened by a competitor or predator. Plumicorns can be used to communicate mood, think of it like an owl’s version of a mood ring. Tall plumicorns are thought to portray excitement or alertness, or flat plumicorns can suggest anger or a relaxed state. Plumicorns also have a role in attracting a mate, apparently these feathers can be very attractive!

📸- Simon Bird