Whatever you do, don't pay any more attention to the idiot that told you to start with a barn owl, they have absolutely no idea what they are talking about!
It is important to get a good foot up into falconry as it is too easy to under-estimate the amount you need to know before you are in a position to do justice to a decent hunting bird. This can be achieved by going on a GOOD course, and/or finding a local mentor who knows their stuff and has the time and patience to help you, and/or joining a local falconry club.
The first question should really be, 'how do i find out more about fa