And you can see it and other birds of prey in action in the heart of the Cotswolds, discovers Zeena Lemon.

This is definitely no ordinary Saturday. Instead of making breakfast for the kids and feeding the cat, I'm standing in the middle of the Cotswolds with a fully grown bald eagle balanced on my outstretched arm.

I've been invited to the Cotswold Falconry Centre by owner Geoff Dalton to find out more about the birds of prey that live there, including eagles, falcons, hawks and owls.

It is amazing how close visitors can get to the birds. You can actually see the shine of their feathers and hear (rather loudly at times) the screech, chatter and hoots of their calls.

Geoff and his team care passionately about birds of prey and behind the scenes act as a hospital for the sick and injured. They also breed the birds to release back into the wild and CCTV cameras are trained on nests to record the arrival of chicks.

Aside from the honour of holding an eagle, the highlight of my visit was the flying display, which gives you a real insight into the psychology and nature of these birds.

As well as providing a great day out, the aim of the centre is to teach, with an education barn for groups and schools, as well as training courses.

For example, did you know that a barn owl can hear a mouse's heartbeat from 25 feet away? I do now.

The Cotswold Falconry Centre in Moreton-in-Marsh can be contacted on 01386 701043, or visit www.cotswold-falconry.co.uk.