Did you know that some Slovaks practice a sport called falconry? People who train in falconry show off large birds such as falcons, eagles and owls to educate kids about wildlife conservation. Read more to learn about my experience with some of these birds!
These birds are quite big, weighing around five to ten pounds, with large beaks and lots of brown feathers. They all have sharp talons, which is why falconers must wear thick leather gloves to protect themselves. The birds are trained to do many things, from hunting to knowing how to stay still on a falconer's arm for long periods of time.
I saw these birds during my first few days in Slovakia because there is a large pen of them outside of the falconry school in Zvolen. I found this very surprising since falconry is not common in America. During my time here, I have been able to see many types of falconry shows and birds of prey all around Slovakia. For instance, at one Christmas market in Bratislava, Slovakia's capital, there was a falconer who let me take a turn holding his bird!
