BRIAN MCCANN AND THE BUSINESS OF BREEDING
BIRDS OF PREY hen Brian McCann first started working with birds of prey , it was just a hobby rather than a business . Fast forward to the present day , Brian runs Newgrange Falconry , an Irish-based , family-operated business that provides both falconry lessons and bird-of-prey exhibitions for local events or workshops . He ’ s passionate about spreading his knowledge of these majestic birds and has a wide selection of birds of prey , including falcons , hawks , owls , and eagles .
From Fire
Service To Falconry
BRIAN MCCANN AND THE BUSINESS OF BREEDING
BIRDS OF PREY hen Brian McCann first started working with birds of prey , it was just a hobby rather than a business . Fast forward to the present day , Brian runs Newgrange Falconry , an Irish-based , family-operated business that provides both falconry lessons and bird-of-prey exhibitions for local events or workshops . He ’ s passionate about spreading his knowledge of these majestic birds and has a wide selection of birds of prey , including falcons , hawks , owls , and eagles .
Though you ’ ve no doubt heard of these creatures before , you ’ re probably wondering , What is falconry ? Falconry is the ancient art of hunting with birds of prey , and back in the day , this would have been how many people put food on their tables . Although there is some debate about where falconry first started , it ’ s generally accepted that it began in Asia before slowly spreading across the world . Where Brian ’ s located , in Ireland , it was the Normans that brought it into the culture many moons ago . There is even evidence of these birds of prey at Newgrange , which is a UNESCO World Heritage site , dating back to four-and-a-half thousand years ago .
Brian ’ s passion for falconry began when he was still in the fire service . “ I never started falconry to do it as a business . In fact , I would say don ’ t do this as a business thinking you ’ re going to make big money . You need to enjoy it for what it is , because then you ’ re more invested in your birds rather than looking at it as a business venture ,” says Brian . Upon retiring from the fire service , his business slowly began taking off , and it turned from a hobby of breeding and flying these birds into booking out events , shows , and exhibitions . And with Brian , you can truly expect a performance . Other falconers will bring one or two birds to an event . Not Brian .
When you attend a Newgrange Falconry show , be prepared to see at least 8 to 10 unique birds of prey and learn all about their habits and lifestyles from Brian himself .
And this passion shines through in everything Brian does regarding falconry . For example , he became the first person in Ireland to breed a Golden Eagle in captivity using artificial insemination , even making an ( unreleased ) documentary about it . Lovingly naming him Boru , after the High King of Ireland Brian Boru , Brian hopes to continue his breeding efforts into the future .
“ They ’ re long-lived creatures that need a place to fly and hunt , and it takes a very experienced falconer to hunt with a Golden Eagle . There are very few people who are qualified to work with Golden Eagles , so I ’ m hoping that if I can produce , say , a couple of eagles each year that the government might step in and release them to the wild ,” Brian commented , adding , “ They ’ re not just for show . They can be used to hunt all manner of animals , including foxes , wolves , deer , rabbits , and stuff like that .”
Our team had the distinct pleasure of watching Brian and his birds in action at our recent visit to Castle Leslie during our Steel Plus Network Convention , and we immediately knew we wanted to highlight this unique experience we got to share . So , if you ’ re ever in the Newgrange area of Ireland , be sure to visit Brian and his birds of prey for either an event or a private lesson so you can also enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity !
To learn more about Brian ’ s story and his birds of prey , visit his website at NewGrangeFalconry . com . +
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