A LOUD and eerie laugh may occasionally unnerve visitors to a hamlet near Bromyard. It doesn't sound entirely human. And, as it turns out, the 'laughter' does not come from a human source.

It has feathers. Kooky the Australia Kookaburra is at it again. Kooky was wrongly foot-tethered by his last owner and has a tatty and worn-down tail as a result, but he's laughing now. He's in safe and expert hands.

Kooky has joined the marvellous menagerie of falconer Trevor Hill and will soon be taking part in Trevor's travelling show.

Visitors to this year's Bromyard Gala, the Dilwyn Show and the Big Event at Hereford will see Trevor and some of his wonderful birds in action.

But only an occasional visitor will see the astonishing sight of Trevor's whole retinue of 45 performers - hawks, falcons, owls, buzzards, vultures, owls and a tawny eagle - in their home setting.

Boyhood hobby

They are at rest on individual perches all over the lawns at the front and rear of Trevor's modest semi - surrounded by open fields and fine views. It's a surreal sight.

The gamekeeper's son, born at Rowden near Bromyard, grew up with birds and taught tricks to pet magpies and jackdaws as a boy. He graduated to falconry, his hobby for many years. As his rural saddlery business struggled against competition from cheap imports, Trevor, 37, took the plunge and turned his leisure interest into his trade.

His work ranges from shows and children's parties (Woody the tawny owl loves to hoot along to the refrain of 'Happy Birthday) to pest control and hunting.

In London, the 'Herefordshire Airborne Pest Control Unit' (Trevor's birds that is) have been called in to scare away pigeons roosting over restaurants. Closer to home they have driven away bird pests from the county's fruit farms.

In winter Trevor's birds of prey are used to hunt game such as pheasant or partridge. Rabbits are classed as vermin and farmers with a rabbit problem always welcome Trevor and his feathered friends.

Then there is the healing work. Many injured birds of prey are brought to Trevor's home.

'Baldy Bum', a wild buzzard hit by a lorry on Leominster bypass, was recently taken to the expert by local vet Deborah Seamer.

Trevor did some 'imping' - implanting an artificial tail using fibreglass stems with the original feathers from Baldy's crushed tail. Now Baldy can fly again and Mother Nature will renew his tail at the next moult.

Kooky too is on the mend out in the aviary. Kookaburras, part of the kingfisher family, should not be tethered in captivity, unlike birds of prey, says Trevor.

He hopes to pass on his knowledge to sons Stephen, seven, and Christopher, two and a half. Both love to help him to fly the birds (the creatures need exercise every day).

"Yes, it would be nice if the boys decided to carry on with this," says Trevor.

l Trevor Hill can be contacted on 01885 410768