A few years ago I took a vacation to Prague, Czech Republic. As I was planning the trip, I wanted to find some fun experiences to take part in. A friend I was visiting loves birds so I thought it would be fun to book a private tour with Penthea.org . They are an organization focusing on falconry, breeding, ornithology, animal rescue and education. The experience was amazing. We got so spend half a day meeting many of the birds they use for falconry and education, we learned about the Czech history of falconry. I’ve been to falconry demonstrations in the US and in Canada, but have never experienced anything like this. It was very informative and has given me a new view of many who use falcons and owls in shows and demonstrations. The laws in the Czech republic and the certifications and rules Czech falconers have to go through to become licensed and keep their license really focuses on the wellbeing of the birds themselves. One of the things that really resonated with me was that they are not allowed to train wild birds for use in falconry, thus reducing the risks of wild birds being captured and sold. They also educated us on some of the bird related photo opportunities that could be offered in the tourist centers of Prague that are actually illegal and should not be encouraged. I honestly now weigh every falconry experience against this one and against the Czech traditions we were taught. If you are going to be in Prague for more than a day or two, I highly recommend reaching out to Penthea and booking an experience for yourself. It is well worth the price. You get to have an amazing experience and support a very worthy organization run by an amazing family. I know I’ll be booking another one the next time I’m in Prague. Also, consider donating to help with the upkeep of the birds they care for.
Below are some of the birds we got to interact with and fly with.
