Welcome! My suggestion is to buy or borrow a couple of books/study guides like the California hawking club study guide and some other books out there that can help you out as a beginner. There's also "the apprentice" it's a site that has a lot of info you'll need when it comes to equipments, housing and other important stuff. Also joining a club is always advisable. They can help point you to the right direction.
Lol...yes joining this site and reading stuff on here can be a bit overwhelming. A lot of great information here and a lot of helpful people. Enjoy your reading and hopefully soon we'll read you posting when you get your first bird.
Warning!!!....it is not too late to turn back