“Falconry girl”, Margaret Young, at the Craigshead house

Margaret Young giving a presentation at the Craigshead House on Falconry

We had a delightful family outing on Sunday at the Craigshead House in Carlisle, PA! We were enchanted with Margaret Young’, also known as the Falconry Girl’s, presentation! She became immersed in falconry after seeing a presentation with raptors, and then a short time later, she read the book My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craigshead George. The section on Jean’s brother Sam Craigshead and his falcon “Frightful” led her to explore falconry with her dad.  She acquired her first bird at fourteen years of age -  an American kestrel named Millennium.

More people attended the presentation than expected and it was very hot day. It was obvious that her falcon was shy and reluctant to perform for the audience, but in spite of that, she entertained and educated with flair. She explained the of history falconry, her journey  and experience as an apprentice and the extensive testing required to obtain a license. At the end of her presentation she answered questions. 

Kestrel stone from my Raptor series.

Margaret Young, owner/operator of Falconry Girl, LLC and her Great Horned Owl!

Her current “Ambassador Team” of raptors include a Harris’s Hawk, Gyrfalcon hybrid, her Peregrine Falcon, Lanor Falcon and Great Horned Owl. We were able to view them very closely. 

When Margaret isn’t sharing her love of falconry, she is pursuing her career in as a stringed instrument repair tech and musical instrument and syles teacher at Meadowbrook Music in Blandon, PA. She teaches violin/fiddle, piano, bodram, hardingfele, and bagpipe, She is currently learning Uilleiann pipes.  In 2024 she came in second at the Scottish  Fiddling Revival US National Championship!