At long last spring has arrived; it has been a long wait! We have made some additions to the flying displays e.g. the cast of Lanners being flown to music. If you have not visited recently this is a must. The two and a half minutes of music being played at the beginning of the Black Kites sounds like it was made for the occasion. The Female Condor, at the 3.30 display (Mrs Simpson) is another sight for sore eyes.

Goose the Bateleur Eagle, showing juvenile plumage

Birds like the Bateleur Eagle (Goose) go from strength to strength, all the hard work has paid off. Come and watch him soar in the valley at the 2 o’clock. A new Peregrine/Lanner Falcon called Anderson is flying superbly. If you are wondering about Lark (Peregrine Falcon), Bert (hybrid Vulture), our Little Owl and Kestrel etc, they all will return later in the season.

There are birds still in training like two Bald Eagles, Orion and Vega. Also Wordsworth the Gymnogene, a Red-Backed Hawk (with no name yet), and we also have a Black Eagle (only for this season).

We have paired up some of the single birds e.g. Boobook, Spotted Little Owl (awaiting delivery) and Woodford’s. We have acquired a new White-Tailed Sea Eagle. A pair of Tropical Screech Owls can also be viewed as well as the new male Snowy Owl. The McKinders Owl has been paired up and gone to another collection.

The breeding season has already produced a Milky Eagle Owl and another Griffon chick! Birds with eggs include Long-eared Owls, Short-eared Owls, Rufus-legged, Ural Owls and Great Greys. Hopefully many others will be laying soon.

Red-backed Hawks

We are awaiting news on some other bird additions, watch this space.

With this very late Spring, as yet no baby Tawny Owls have been brought to the Trust, though it is only a matter of time before they come flooding in. The recruitment of the summer research crew has just started; the selected people will spend a minimum of 6 weeks tracking the fostered Owls. This year the research on the Owls is being shared and funded by the R.S.P.C.A. To learn more about this, see research on the main web page.

The three new members of staff have settled in well, they even seem to be enjoying themselves! With a good Easter holiday break completed I look forward to another action packed year.

I should finish this article by mentioning the released Red Kites (7 this winter) who went to join Haydown in the wild, if you have not visited the Trust recently you can now come and see several Kites coming in every day. There were 5 of them last weekend at the wild bird feed!

Enjoy

Andy

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