Carnival 2009 - Books
Birds of Bray
As the name suggests, Birds of Bray are a local Falconry team, having lived in the village for the past 32 years – practising falconry for the last 18 years. Birds of Bray started with one Lanner Falcon and steadily progressed to a collection of Owls, Hawks and Falcons – most of which, including the original Lanner, you will be able to see on display at the Carnival.
All the birds you will see on display are captive-bred birds and have not been taken from the wild (which, in any event, is now illegal). Birds of Bray are often asked why the birds sit so quietly on their perches and there are two reasons for this. Firstly, the birds are manned (trained) so that they have no fear of humans; and secondly, the birds receive a little extra food on the day prior to a display so that they are slightly overweight and therefore not inclined to fly - incidentally, this is where the expression ‘Fed Up’ originates from.
If you wish to learn more about the birds, please visit the Birds of Bray stand and talk to the handlers who will be pleased to answer your questions – and they don’t bite, unlike their feathered friends! Take your camera too, as the birds are used to being photographed.
