There is a moment during the Störtebeker Festspiele that always amazes the audience, when “Laran” the eagle flows low over their heads and lands on Störtebeker’s arm. They gasp and those directly under the flight path can feel the rush of air has he silently glides over them.
Stiwi, the bird playing Laran, and his trainer Volker Walter, have been taking part in the play for the past 20 years and travel each year in May from their home in Bavaria to Rügen for the summer season, along with a host of other birds that he trains with his wife.
Last year I was lucky enough to be invited to visit them and see their birds of prey first hand.
