Falconry Displays

It is with sadness that I report the passing peacefully of our old Eagle Owl ‘Bo’ who was 38 years old.

She was held in such reverence in the family as she predates my marriage and my children – she has always been there.

She was a wonderful flier and will always be remembered in the arena at Blenheim Palace gliding over the heads of  children sitting on each side of the jousting rail. A flight of some  50 yards. It was difficult with children running everywhere! after being sent into the arena by their parents – but it was worth it.

Bo was flown almost everywhere and did many many corporate days and even more at Thornbury Castle Hotel – for guests –  which was like a second home to her. She would gladly fly to any body and so was a wonderful asset to have. She did her share of weddings as the ring bearer and particularly memorable was her flight in St Mary’s Church, Thornbury where she flew from a release box down the long aisle and up onto a stage at the end to my fist carrying a ring. It was a vowel renewal for a Canadian Couple and complete surprise for the wife and their children!

She was one of my earliest birds and I bought her from Langley Mill, Nottingham in 1988 with my late brother Tim who drove me up in his mini. I flew Bo right up until 2022 when her powers began to fail – her last 4 years she spent at home in her aviary. She was still laying an egg or two every Spring until a couple of years ago.

She as the title suggests was the last of the 4 Amigos with Peggy a ‘lanner-lugger falcon’ Duke a lanneret and Red a Harris hawk all living into their twenties. They were a superb team and were strengthened a few years later with Waqar a male lugger falcon and together we did many hundreds of events across the whole of the UK.

Bo was a wonderful bird and already much missed. Here she is flying at Blenheim Palace in her prime.

And a picture of her beautiful face.