Falconry & The Medieval World | Hammond Castle

Falconry is the sport of hunting with a trained bird of prey. It is also the demanding art of training a predatory bird that is by nature wary of people to hunt cooperatively with a human partner. Although the sport has a 4,000 – year history, its glory days were indisputably the medieval period.  While this presentation centers around live birds used in falconry, it is not a flight demonstration but a history-rich look at an ancient sport. Focusing on the medieval period, it explains the characteristics of the birds of prey used, how the sport reflected the lifestyle of the time, and the historical reasons behind falconry’s rise and fall.

This ticket grants you access to the Falconry & the Medieval World- Live Bird Presentation which will be held in a tent on the ocean-facing lawn as well as access to the Museum Shop. A separate tour ticket will be required to enter beyond the Museum Shop for a guided or self-guided tour. If you wish to tour Hammond Castle Museum at the conclusion of this program, ticket holders may purchase Self-Guided Tour tickets in the Museum Shop at a 20% discount.  

WINGMASTERS is a partnership of two people dedicated to increasing public understanding and appreciation of North American birds of prey. Julie Anne Collier and Jim Parks are both licensed wildlife rehabilitators based in Massachusetts. Together they care for injured birds of prey at their center in Leverett, Massachusetts.  Most of the birds they rehabilitate can ultimately be released back into the wild, but in some cases the birds are left permanently handicapped. Julie and Jim are further licensed to provide a home for these non releasable raptors, and to use them for educational programs. Since 1994 WINGMASTERS has presented over 10,000 programs at schools, libraries and museums throughout New England.

*There are two sessions available for this presentation: 10:00am and 12:30pm.