Feathers and Fur

Obsessed with Owls, Fascinated by Falcons and Hinquisitive!!!! About Hawks! (couldn’t be helped!) then a Hands on Bird of Prey Session is the one for you.

Taking place at Ladd’s Garden Village the 2 hour long private Hands on Bird of Prey Sessions are a wonderful way to allow children, adults and families a really close encounter session with  some of Britain’s stunning Birds of Prey and a few of our neighbouring countries ones too.

What’s Involved

Our meeting point for the Hands on Birds of Prey Sessions is Ladd’s Garden Village, Nr Reading, Berkshire. Feathers and Fur has a purpose built area with in Ladd’s Garden Village where the birds are on show to the public. Here you meet the falconers and after human introductions you are introduced to all our birds.

We then have a quick safety talk and you are shown how to call and hold the birds correctly and are given a falconry glove to use for the duration of the session.

First off is the wonderful and memorable Barn Owl, Willow. She flies to your fist and is very friendly allowing you a really hands on Session. You are shown the various items of equipment she is wearing (furniture in technical speak!) and as she poses for photos you are able to appreciate the intricate detail of colour and imagine how easily man simply leapt from the silent gracefully pale Barn owl to the ghostly apparition filled with evil and fear.

Next the Kestrel, a wonderful and mesmerising falcon often seen hovering along roadsides and field margins. Fagus is a young male still to develop is distinctive blue head and tail but still a handsome gentleman. Flown to the lure, you will be shown how to swing a lure and throw it out for him.

Billie is the gigantic European Eagle Owl, a whopper at over 5lb and far to heavy to comfortably fly to the fist so Billie uses stumps to land on. You are given the opportunity to call her to the post and take full advantage of the opportunity to get close enough to take photos of those wonderful eyes!

Tilia, is a Common Buzzard, once a very rare sight in our skies now the broad winged silhouette is a wonderful addition to the beauty of the British countryside. Tilia flies gracefully to your fist whilst we talk about the various adaptations each bird has made to fit into niche habitats.

Lastly the Harris Hawks, an agile aggressive hunter flown to the fist. Using dummy lures to show off their speed and ability the Hawks are flown to and from the fist whilst discussing the use of falconry in modern day society.

Extra

The private sessions allows us to tailor the experience to your own unique Hands on Bird of Prey Session.

For a more specialised session why not check out our tutorial sessions for those looking for more practical falconry information or if your into photography why not try our static or flying sessions.

Feathers and Fur reserves the right to alter the order and species flown at any point.