Manning: Building Trust

What is Manning?

In its simplest form, manning is habituation—getting the bird comfortable with human presence, handling, and the chaos of the human world. But it’s more than that. Good manning creates a bird that’s confident on the fist, relaxed around people, and focused on the falconer as a partner rather than a threat.

The term comes from the old English “to man” a hawk—to make it accustomed to man. It’s been a core falconry concept for over a thousand years, and while our understanding has evolved, the fundamental process remains the same.

El amansamiento funciona a través de un proceso que los científicos del comportamiento llaman habituación—la exposición repetida y neutral a un estímulo hasta que la respuesta de miedo disminuye. Cada vez que el ave experimenta tu presencia sin consecuencias negativas, las vías neuronales asociadas con el miedo se debilitan mientras que las asociadas con la recompensa alimentaria se fortalecen. Por eso la consistencia importa tanto: cada interacción positiva se construye sobre la anterior, creando un efecto acumulativo. Las aves criadas en cautiverio se habitúan más rápido porque experimentaron contacto humano durante el período crítico de impronta, pero incluso las aves de pasaje pueden ser completamente amansadas mediante exposición paciente y sistemática.

The First Days

When you first get your bird—whether trapped or purchased from a breeder—it will be stressed and frightened. The first 48-72 hours set the tone for everything that follows.

Day 1: Quiet Introduction

• Dark, quiet room: Minimize stimulation initially
• Hood if possible: Hooding (if the bird accepts it) reduces stress
• Offer food: Associate your presence with positive things
• No sudden movements: Move slowly and deliberately
• Brief handling: Short sessions; don’t exhaust the bird

Days 2-3: Building Association

• All food from the fist: Every meal strengthens the bond
• Gradual exposure: Introduce new stimuli slowly
• Watch the feet: Relaxed feet = relaxed bird
• Note appetite: A bird that eats on the fist is making progress

Reading Your Bird

Manning success depends on reading subtle cues. Learn to recognize:

Manning Techniques

Carrying the Bird

Traditional manning involves carrying the bird for extended periods—sometimes many hours a day. This exposes the bird to your movements, sounds, and eventually the outside world.

• Start indoors: Quiet room, minimal stimulation
• Walk slowly: Let the bird adjust to movement
• Gradual exposure: Add new environments progressively
• Night manning: Some falconers carry birds at night initially (less visual stress)

Tidbitting

Offer small pieces of food frequently rather than large meals. This creates more positive associations and keeps the bird engaged with you.

• Small pieces: Thumbnail-sized bits of meat
• Frequent rewards: Many small interactions beat one long one
• Voice association: Use a consistent call when offering food

Environmental Exposure

Once the bird is comfortable on the fist indoors, begin introducing new environments:

1. Quiet outdoor areas (backyard)
2. Slightly busier areas (neighborhood walk)
3. Cars and vehicle sounds
4. Dogs, other animals (from a distance)
5. Crowds (if relevant to your hunting areas)

Common Mistakes

Timeline Expectations

Manning timelines vary by species, individual bird, and whether the bird is passage (wild-caught) or captive-bred:

When is Manning “Done”?

Manning is never truly complete—it’s an ongoing process throughout the hunting season. But you can move to the next training phase when:

• Bird eats readily on the fist in various environments
• Minimal bating during normal handling
• Bird steps up to the fist without hesitation
• Relaxed posture, rousing, feaking (wiping beak) in your presence
• Tolerates moderate distractions without panic

Si tu ave batea excesivamente después de varios días de amansamiento, podrías estar progresando demasiado rápido o manejando al ave con un peso demasiado alto. Intenta reducir la estimulación—regresa a una habitación tranquila y oscura con sesiones más cortas. Si el ave rechaza completamente la comida en el puño, asegúrate de que esté en un peso apropiado e intenta ofrecer alimentos preferidos como pechuga fresca de codorniz. Las señales persistentes de estrés como jadeo, tensión constante en las patas o daño en las plumas ameritan una conversación con tu sponsor. Algunas aves, particularmente los accipíteres, requieren significativamente más paciencia y pueden necesitar semanas de trabajo cuidadoso antes de mostrar progreso real.