Anyone into Falconry?

[WrongPython]

Long-term wannabe here! I don't have the time or space to pursue falconry any time soon, but hopefully I'll be able to do so in the future. It's a wonderful pursuit.

If I were in you and your daughter's position, I'd probably secure a sponsor first, pass the test, and then build the mews. If I remember the regulations correctly, you don't have to have your mews built to ahead of your test, just in time for your Fish & Wildlife/Game inspection to receive your trapping permit. You'll want to check in with your licensing agency on that. Her potential sponsor should be able to give her some good insight into how to properly build her mews and study for the test, so they're someone she'll want in her corner sooner rather than later anyway. I have an pre-apprentice-friendly website bookmarked with some mews examples -- PM me and I can send you the link.

I personally wouldn't rush the process to meet the January deadline -- an extra season of tagging along and learning from others and their birds never hurt, and it gives you more time to get your permits all lined up and your ideal mews built! It would also be a good opportunity to make sure this is something she actually wants to do. It's awesome that she's passionate about it (and able to pursue it, I'm jealous!), but it's one thing to tag along with falconers, and a whole other thing to become one yourself. As one falconer once put it to me, once you make the commitment, you're tethered to your bird. Is your daughter prepared to take a step back from her other pursuits to tether herself to a raptor? Does she have the time to care for, man, and fly her bird everyday (and not have Mom or Dad do it)? Is she truly comfortable with hunting and dispatching game for her bird if she needs to? These questions aren't meant to be discouraging (and definitely not insulting!), but they're definitely questions all pre-apprentices need to think over.

I'd recommend she go with a red tail even if she has the choice between that and a kestrel. Kestrels can be a touch too delicate for beginners, from what I've heard. Best of luck to her!