SIMON RITCHIE and family swoop on a bird of prey centre near Thirsk.

IF THERE'S such a thing as reincarnation, I wouldn't mind coming back as an owl.

After watching them at close quarters at the Birds Of Prey Conservation Centre, at Sion Hill Hall, near Thirsk, I concluded that owls were pretty cool, especially when they spin their heads round. They are also graceful, enigmatic, majestic and deadly. In fact the list of adjectives to describe these birds is endless.

All that puts me off being an owl is the way they cough up their undigested food - then again, we humans have some pretty bad habits too.

The centre, run by Falconry UK Ltd, is home to 90 birds of prey, covering some 32 species. It is in a walled garden next to Sion Hill Hall, an elegant manor house built in 1912 by the York architect Walter H Brierley. It is a perfect setting for such a venture

We arrived just in time for one of the flying demonstrations and talks by head falconer Ben Potter (held daily at 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm).

You can tell by the way he speaks about and to the birds that he adores them. He knows every bird by name, their history and characteristics, and the birds respond to him with what looks like love and respect too.

The talks are informative and fun and Ben gives visitors the chance to handle the birds.

I had a 23-year-old Tawny Eagle called Poacher and a Bateleur Eagle called Tazmin land and take-off from my arm - with a little help from Ben and some food. It was a weird experience, but one that I'd recommend.

We also saw a brilliant joint flying display by black and red kites, which dived and swooped to the delight of the crowd.

When we visited, the centre was looking after two baby barn owls, unofficially called Itchy and Stratchy after the cartoon cat and mouse from The Simpsons.

These two tiny bundles of white fluff were gorgeous, and as soon as they were placed on the grass, a crowd gathered round to coo.

Even my wife, Jayne, who has an aversion to anything with wings, grew quite attached to and stroked the chicks. We also touched to a tame and gentle pigmy owl called Minnie.

Our 18-month-old son, Elliot, managed to tear himself away from the giant sandpit to stroke the owl.

Other birds include a huge American bald eagle called Liberty, buzzards, Harris hawks, vultures, laughing kookaburras and a pelican.

You can also "adopt" any of the birds, your sponsorship money going towards feed for a year.

What also impressed us about the place was its cleanliness. The enclosures were spotless and the drinking water clean and fresh.

If I were an owl, it's the sort of place I wouldn't mind hanging out in.

Fact file...

Birds Of Prey Conservation Centre, at Sion Hill Hall, Kirkby Wiske.

Tel 01845 587522

Location: The centre is situated at Kirkby Wiske, on the A167 between Thirsk and Northallerton, not far from the North Yorkshire police headquarters at Newby Wiske.

Cost: Adults, £4.50; children, £2.50, under-3s free; family tickets (2 adults, 2 children), £12.

Open: 10.30am to 5.30pm every day from March 1 to October 31.

Flying demonstrations at 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm daily.

www.falconrycentre.co.uk

Updated: 09:59 Saturday, May 17, 2003