In 2020, as the world came to a standstill, a baby Harris Hawk arrived in Candida Meyrick’s life. Living with her family on the Isle of Anglesey, she suddenly found herself responsible for training a powerful bird of prey.
Falconry—hunting with a raptor—requires immense patience and careful daily handling. But as she stepped out into the Welsh countryside with her hawk every day, Candida found her world expanding. Bird became more than an animal; she became a spirit-guide, a teacher, and a soul-companion.
Be More Bird chronicles the profound evolution of this relationship. It is a story of finding freedom in a creature who is feral but accepts friendship. It is a lyrical account of hunting daily, a love song to the splendour, fragility, and interdependence of life. Through the timeless discipline of falconry, the hawk revealed life-lessons Candida had no idea were coming—lessons about trust, perspective, humility, and the flow state of creation.
"I held the dream of a hawk in my heart. Of course I would say yes."
Experience the opening of Be More Bird. Narrated by the author, Candida Meyrick.
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“A small masterpiece, written with heart, self-belief and wisdom. Wonderful!”
“Philosophical, questioning, alive with wonder: this is a book that looks inwards and outwards, learning from the wildest creature with which humans have formed a partnership.”
“A subtle and beguiling memoir.”
Listen to discussions about the book, falconry, and life-lessons on national radio.
— Sounds, Outlook Mixtape
“Brilliant, captivating! Congratulations on an absolutely brilliant read. It’s our book of the week. An absolute belter!”
— Paul Ross
— Katie Martin
Also featured with great coverage in a lead article in Tatler, a fabulous interview in The Telegraph, a sell-out talk at The Oldie magazine, and featured on the Falconry Heritage Trust site. Shortlisted non-fiction book of the month by @worldofbooksofficial.
"Deftly combining nature writing, autobiography and personal development guide - and perfect for fans of Raising Hare and H is for Hawk - Meyrick’s short and lyrically written book details the bond that develops during the author and a hawk during the 2020 lockdown."
"Extraordinary… a remarkable story… a work we have been passionately recommending to readers. Nature writing has a strong and loyal readership, reflected in the popularity of books such as Raising Hare, H is for Hawk and The Peregrine. However, Candida’s book reaches beyond the traditional nature-writing audience. Its exploration of the relationship between humans and animals alongside its uplifting, hopeful message in challenging times gives out a broad appeal. It is a book that sparks conversation, reflection and genuine emotional connection."
“This book is a thoughtful, thought-provoking, masterpiece. A love letter to growing up, motherhood and being alive. This is a must read and will stick with me, the message soaring clear and undiluted. Amazing book!”
“Loving this book, profound, a ‘must read’.”
“Candida Clark has crafted a beautifully written memoir, following her journey from a novice to a seasoned falconer… Deceptively casual, the story of Candida’s journey embodies a profound discourse interweaving themes of mortality, parenthood and the role of mankind on planet Earth. The passages describing Candida taking her hawk out hunting are rendered in gorgeous prose… Reading this enchanting memoir made me appreciative of the everyday simplicities that hold within them the divine.”
— Amazon 5* Reviews
“Lovely … an anthology of life-lessons learned from raising and training Bird… I read this in one sitting. I was so absorbed by the beautiful connection between Candida and Bird. It really highlighted how much of a teacher nature can be, we just need to open out eyes, ears, hands and hearts to accept the wisdom of the world. I know the lessons from this book will stick with me, and act as a reminder to Be More Bird. Congratulations on your non-fiction debut – I loved it!”
— @jazzy.in.the.wild
— @Vic Runs Reads
