I visited the majestic eagles and owls at West Midlands falconry centre for the first time - one was my favourite
Witnessing the birds speeds, agility and precision was a great experience
From being up close to some of natures most impressive birds of prey to experiencing the thrill of seeing them take flight in a flying display I decided to visit a West Midlands falconry centre to find out what it had to offer.
I’ve always held an appreciation for birds of pray as there is something quite captivating seeing them in action and my recent visit to Hagley falconry centre certainly did not disappoint.
Stepping into the centre I was immediately struck by the incredible variety of birds of pray on display.
From majestic eagles to graceful owls and large vultures, there was a pleather of featured residents to meet, each with its own personality and character.
I found it fascinating seeing the birds so close, as it is one thing to admire them from a distance but being just a few feat away from them allowed me to appreciate their patterned feathers and piercing eyes.
The flying display was undoubtedly the best part of my visit as watching the birds swoop gracefully from post to post, and in some cases soar across the flying field, was fascinating. The enormous wingspans of some of the birds captivated me and each bird brought something interesting to the display.
Witnessing the birds speeds, agility and precision also engrossed me and seeing how the birds responded to their handlers certainly gave me a greater appreciation of the creatures.
Despite the display taking place for an hour it held my attention throughout and I can definitely see the appeal.
The falconry centre is a charity that was established in 1983 and is located in the grounds of Webb’s Garden Centre on Kidderminster Road South in Hagley.
The charity also has the most varied collection of flying birds of prey in the West Midlands with over 80 birds calling the centre home, which provides visitors the opportunity to learn about a variety of species.
The entry price was just £8 to visit the centre and watch the one hour flying display. I felt this was great value considering the amount of birds and length of display.
One thing which really stood out to me was the knowledge and passion of the staff members who knew each of the birds different personalities and quirks.
It was clear the staff have a genuine connection with the birds and it was truly lovely to see how much care and attention the birds receive.
My personal favourite was Jeremy, a frogmouth owl, who was quite vocal when approached which made him one of the more memorable birds of the visit.
Whether you are looking for a unique day out or looking to experience something different in the West Midlands the centre certainly lives up to its expectations.
For more information about the centre visit their website: https://thefalconrycentre.co.uk/.