Flying start

Mel Hopwood is the bird keeper at Leighton Hall, Carnforth, and her task for the last two months has been ensuring that Leighton's magnificent birds of prey are in top form for the busy summer ahead.

During their break from their summer displays the birds gained excess weight and this meant a rigorous, rehearsal regime before Leighton Hall opened its gates to visitors again today.

Mel explained: "Even birds who have been with us for some years need to get back their fitness levels and we have to work very hard building up bonds of trust with new birds, like Harley the Hawk and Bilbo the Bengal Eagle Owl."

Training a new bird can take months and Mel admits there have been birds she found untrainable:

"We used to have an eagle who just hated me! Eagles are very hard work anyway because of their unpredictability and size, but usually they will work with you once you have bonded with them. Not this one!"

Misogynist eagles aside, Mel says she loves her work. So dedicated is she, that there is no time for holidays or days off. The birds need her attention every day - if only for a walk in the grounds perched on her arm!

Fortune the Saker Falcon (Mel's favourite because of her sheer determination and intelligence) Gorbachov the Russian Steppe Eagle, Harley, Bilbo and the rest of Leighton's birds will be displaying their skills until September 30 at Leighton Hall.

I love birds of prey and I could not resist paying Mel a visit. She obviously loves the birds and is an ardent conservationist.

The birds are captive bred and very happy and this and other collections like it are essential to ensure that very rare species much under threat in the wild, have the chance to survive.

Those people who criticise well-run institutions such as Leighton Hall, need to realise that they help many species to survive.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.