Katy Barnes Falconry

INTRODUCTION

Welcome

Welcome to my personal portfolio! I keep this as up to date as I can, however my line of work often drags me off my feet, so I apologize in advance if this hasn’t been updated recently.

That being said welcome! don’t worry about taking your shoes off, the carpets are already pretty muddy.

FAQ

Who are you?
Hi, my name is Katy Barnes. I’m a falconer working for the Hawk Conservancy Trust. You can find out more by visiting my About page!

What do you do?
I’m an expert in ‘bird of prey conservation’, ‘falconry’ & ‘Cage and Aviary’. I look after a number of endangered hawks, owls, falcons, eagles and vultures. I personally own two birds of prey: A great great owl named Maddie and a harris hawk named George.

What’s a falconer?
A falconer traditionally is a term used to describe a person that hunts using birds of prey in the falcon family, however the term now extends to keepers that specialise in birds of prey.

How can i get into falconry? and is it legal to own a bird of prey?
Getting into falconry is not easy, they require a lot more than a normal pet and as such you need to treat them like a work partner, rather than somthing you keep as a companion. It’s legal to own a bird of prey in the UK, however as part of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, if your bird is listed under section 7, schedule 4 your bird of prey will need to be registered. Please visit here for more information.

If you intend to purchase a bird of prey I recommend first getting mentorship via one of the many available schemes. I do also offer personal mentorship, however due to my limited availability I cannot accept all opportunities.

How much do you charge for mentorship/guidance?
I am currently not offering mentorship/guidance schemes due to commitments in south africa and in conservations here in the UK. When I do have openings I charge at £200/hr providing training for both adults and juniors (13+).

Working with **Ashanti** the Verreaux’s Eagle! While not endagered these Eagles have an important role to play in south africa’s biodiversity.

This is **Fagin** the Hooded Vulture, he’s considered Critically Endagered and needs our help! The major threats to this species include non-target poisoning, Capture for bushmeat, land conversion through development and improvements to abattoir hygiene and rubbish disposal.

My very spoilt Burrowing Owls, they certainly are a handful and like to play favourites. If you’re ever in the Salisbury area, look out for the star of TWO Bird Experiences & Education Ltd **“Squidge”!**

My team of vultures during demonstrations are spectacular to watch. I fell very privileged whenever I give a talk with these fantastic garbage collectors.

“It’s surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on Earth.”
– Sir David attenborough (‘A Life on Our Planet’, 2020)

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