The Kingdom Falconry.
An Encounter with Raptors.
A few miles outside Dingle is Kingdom Falconry, a place we decided to visit simply to see what it was all about. We had a couple of days left before leaving Dingle, and it was a most interesting way to spend an afternoon.
When we arrived, two small buses of visitors were already inside, but we were there for our own 3:00 appointment and had a little time to take in the surroundings.
I pre-booked The Kingdom Falconry months in advance as it’s very popular with bus tours. After several days of driving the narrow roads and winding lanes around County Kerry, we welcomed a break from the car and were curious to see what awaited us.
As we approached the site, an old, sign pointed us toward a path. We followed the narrow trail for about 250 meters, with low brush and vegetation on either side. The setting had an almost wild, secluded character.
A pond on the right with a sole tree adjacent to the pond—more like a walk through the countryside than an approach to a falconry.
As we came closer, we could see a few people gathered around a newly built wooden structure.
A young woman greeted us, took our names, and explained that we were there for a private exhibition. She was smartly dressed and already had a leather-hooded falcon perched on her arm.
She invited us to come closer. The bird was remarkably calm, although she explained that these were powerful hunting birds and that their behavior could change quickly. She removed the hood, and suddenly we were looking directly into the eyes of a working predator.
I asked if I could photograph the bird.
“Anything you want,” she said. “It doesn’t affect the bird.”
That was all the encouragement I needed.
She handed each of us a heavy leather glove and explained how to hold our arm. Then she demonstrated how the raptors would fly from her to us, following the lure of small pieces of raw pigeon meat placed on our gloves.
The sequence was almost mesmerizing.
The bird would launch from her arm, sweep through the air, and land on our gloved hand with surprising precision. Then, with another signal, it would lift off and return to her.
From a photographer’s perspective, it was fascinating to watch the entire process.
She tied some meat on a heavy cord, swung it in a large circle and the falcon would climb and dive for it’s reward. We could hear the sound of it’s wings as it passed nearby. The sudden movement of the wings, the concentration in the bird’s eyes, and the incredible control with which it then landed only inches from the camera.
She explained that this particular bird responded primarily to her commands, rather than to the gentleman who is the owner.
He, however, had his own remarkable partner:
Then, A magnificent owl.
The owl had delicate patterns in its feathers that formed a striking design across its back. Its eyes were penetrating and almost hypnotic. Standing close enough to look directly into those eyes was an experience in itself. When the Owl launched for the third or forth time, his wing aggressively brushed the side of my face, as if intentionally
The handlers took plenty of time to explain the individual characteristics and personalities of each bird. It quickly became apparent that these were not simply beautiful animals on display. Each had its own temperament, habits, and relationship with its handler.
At one point, a different falcon left his arm and decided to go its own way. It flew behind the tree beside the pond and disappeared from view. We were told that it had spotted some potential prey—perhaps a crow—and was simply following its instincts.
It took nearly ten minutes for him to call the bird back.
Watching the handler patiently work with the bird was fascinating.
There was no sense of panic or force—just an understanding of the animal and its behavior.
The Golden Eagle.
After several falcons, owls, etc. they brought out a 14 pound Golden Eagle.
I knew what was coming, but I wasn’t quite prepared for the reality of it.
The eagle was placed on my outstretched arm. Even through the heavy glove, its weight was immediately apparent. Yet what struck me most was its presence. This was an enormous, powerful bird, with a seven foot wingspan and suddenly it was only inches away.
A magnificent creature.
To be standing that close—almost eyeball to eyeball—was something I never expected when we made this little excursion outside Dingle.
Inside the Falconry
We then went inside the falconry, a newer wooden structure with large enclosures arranged around a central grassy area. Our guide explained how the facility had been constructed on a bog and was waterproofed so that it could withstand the Irish weather while allowing the structures to dry properly.
The experience lasted much longer than we had anticipated.
What I will remember most, however, isn’t simply seeing the birds.
It was being close enough to photograph every feather, feel the incredible strength of their talons through the glove.
To look directly into the eyes of a bird that, only moments before, had been soaring freely through the air.
For a photographer, those are the moments that make a trip memorable.
