Hi sound like your luck is in with the help offered. If you could find someone local with a falcon they fly all year round you may be able to gain some experiance in how to look after a bird, feeding, weights controll,cleaning, housing, manning,hooding,health etc. That way you can start learning the ins and outs sooner and will give you a good start and better understanding of what's what.
You could also look up one of the clubs up there see if you can get a mentor or see if any pest controllers who have birds will let you have a days out with them.
Good luck with it all and all the best.