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Falconry show in Ribe VikingeCenter
Experience the falconer's impressive birds of prey. Say hello to the charming owl, feel the rush of the hawk's wings, and see the agile falcon as it dives to claw its prey. The birds are keen to demonstrate their elegant flying skills for a juicy chunk of meat, while our experienced falconer explains about hunting with raptors.
The falconry show in Ribe VikingeCenter is a free activity.
Hunting with raptors
Hunting with birds of prey has been practised for thousands of years. According to the earliest sources, it originates from Asia and the Middle East, and it was also known in Scandinavia during the Viking Age. For instance, the excavation of the Gokstad Ship (end of the 7th century) in Norway, two goshawks with a small bell were found in the grave. They are believed to have been used for hunting. In the Middle Ages, hunting with falcons was a privilege reserved for kings and princes, and there was an extensive trade in falcons in the Middle East.
A large part of the falconer's life is centered around the breeding and hunting with birds. It requires a specialist's knowledge, much tending and a lot of training every day. The result is a beautiful collaboration between man and bird.
Nowadays, it is forbidden to keep Danish native birds in captivity. Therefore, we only keep foreign birds of prey in Ribe VikingeCenter. Falconry was banned in Denmark between 1967 and 2018. It requires both a hunting license and a falconer's test before you go hunting with birds of prey.
