You can look around at the birds in their aviaries at the garden centre it's attached to on most days. There are event days when they encourage children to learn about the birds, the owls especially.
On these days the volunteers bring out a couple of the better socialised birds and only charge a couple of pounds to handle them.
Just today, I went out with my Dad and the experienced handler, Sadie, on a hawk walk. We took a Harris Hawk called "Echo" out with us. It's more the case that we have the privilege of witnessing him chase things in the fields and have to lure him back with bits of chicken, than that we are engaging in falconry!
The above shot shows Echo sizing my arm to clamber up...
And here I feel rather complimented that he's decided that my shoulder is an OK lookout to try and see a pheasant that escaped him earlier in the day! We were blessed with some beautiful weather, a low autumn sun that seemed blinding to us but not to Echo as we went on his usual circuit around the fields.
My Dad took some excellent photos but the one above is definitely my favourite!
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