Falcon in Waiting

Buckland Abbey in West Devon held an Elizabethan weekend yesterday and today. This afternoon we watched the falconry display. This was one of the falcons in a tent before the display. To see these magnificent birds in flight is truly awe inspiring. During the display a bird could be seen at relatively close quarters swooping gracefully  down from the top of a tree or the roof of the abbey. The husband and wife team in charge of the event gave a detailed, educational and informative commentary about the birds and the history of falconry. Not everyone I think would feel comfortable with events like this. However, this has to be balanced against the need for young people to understand this aspect of our heritage. I would also like to think that it helps to encourage a new generation to understand and appreciate the wonder and diversity of nature.