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Butterfly Farm
16/02/2008 07:43:31
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 Yesterday, I visited a butterfly farm forty-five minutes from my house, on the way to the university town, Cambridge, England. A writer's mind is never idle. I imagined the land as it once was with wildflower meadows over which butterflies flitted. Alas 
there are fewer today due to chemical sprays.
As well as butterflies there are other creatures on the farm amongst which are a peregrine falcon. I am writing a novel set in the reign of Edward IInd and was pleased to have the opportunity to put a couple of questions.
Q.	What is the purpose of the hood?
A.	If a falcon sees another falcon in the sky it becomes excited.  The hood keeps it calm and the same is true if the falcon is on the ground. Hence the expression, hood winked.
Q.  How does the handler persuade the falcon to return?
A. Falcons are greedy. They will return to the gauntlet if there is food on it. Otherwise, if it is trained to a lure with meat on it, the lure is swung round. The falcon will return to the lure and the hood can be slipped on.
It's amazing how much material I gather for my novels while I'm out and about.

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