FROM training feathered film stars to execute perfectly choreographed scenes to shooing nuisance gulls from a quarry, a teenager's fascination with falconry has opened up two career opportunities worlds apart from one another.

Having sampled the lifestyle of a movie-maker on two of the Harry Potter films, Michael Taylor has opted for a return to the historic roots of the discipline to start his own business.

Mr Taylor, 19, worked with animal trainers on Harry Potter blockbusters The Chamber of Secrets and The Prisoner of Azkaban, caring for and coaching more than a dozen birds.

Mr Taylor, of North Close, near Spennymoor, County Durham, met the films' location manager at New College, Durham where he was studying a media and film studies course.

Firing questions at him about the animals that appeared in the big screen blockbusters must have made a lasting impression as, when the pair met again a year later during filming at Durham Cathedral, the student was introduced to the rest of the crew.

The team behind the film adaptations of JK Rowling's tales of a teenage wizard invited him work behind the scenes and travel with them to shoot on location across the UK and in Poland.

"I gave up college and moved to London to work in Leavesden Studios," said Mr Taylor. "I was helping to care for and train 15 owls, eagles, crows and ravens for the second and third films.

"They are such intelligent birds, especially the ravens. They are really responsive and you can build up a strong relationship and trust.

"They were trained to fly a path, or through windows on cue or to carry a letter with perfect timing.

"It was good being part of the Harry Potter films - they were so huge - and to know I contributed to scenes that were viewed by so many people is exciting."

But after sampling the work of a film crew member Mr Taylor decided to leave London - and often 15-hour shifts, seven days a week - to come home and start his own enterprise, MT Avian Control.

It offers environmentally-friendly pest control for landfill sites, sports stadiums, factories, shopping precincts, town centres and office blocks.

By flying his own birds of prey regularly and at different times he can trick nuisance birds into thinking they are entering a hawk's territory, therefore an unsafe place to roost or nest. It prompts them to move to another site.

He will also tackle problems such as rats, mice, rabbits and insect infestations, as well as scientific testing to trace any potential diseases that can be passed on to man.

The business, established with a £1,500 Prince's Trust loan, is enabling Mr Taylor to combine a new career with a passion for falconry.

He said: "It was never really a hobby, more a way of life.

"You cannot wake up one morning and decide not to feed and look after your birds, they need constant care and dedication to train them properly.

"Birds are very intelligent and bond with you really quickly if you spend the time on them.

"I was always into wildlife documentaries and the predators like big cats, but it was the birds of prey that fascinated me, they are so powerful and fast.

"When I was about 12, I spied a neighbour, Phil Gibbons, who runs Ridgeside Falconry, training birds of prey for displays and started working with him.

"That was good but through it I met someone who uses traditional falconry methods for pest control and that is the direction I want to go in.

"Falconry was used centuries ago for hunting and the way I'll be working will be much closer to those roots. It will be good to make a living by work with my birds."

To contact MT Avian Control visit the website on www.mtaviancontrol.co.uk or email michaelmtaviancon trol.co.uk.