My interest in ornithology goes back over 40 years and started during my National Service in Hampshire.   We had to stay on camp over weekends but there was usually very little to do.  As is the case now, the MOD owned some very good bird watching country and one of the other NCOs was a keen and very experienced bird watcher.  One weekend he invited me to join him.  I was hooked and have been ever since.

Michael observes the kites' progress

Some years ago, I think from a children’s TV programme, I heard about The Hawk Conservancy and after a few visits joined the membership scheme.  We used to come a few times a year as a family.  It was always a good day out.  We also used to visit country fairs so that we could see other displays and I remember one in the New Forest flown by Jemima Parry-Jones.  From that time on I have had a passion for Birds of Prey.

Living and working north of the Thames at Harrow, it was a day trip out to visit The Trust, so I answered and advert in a local paper asking for volunteer help at a Raptor Rescue Centre in Bushy near Watford.  I helped out there at weekends over several years doing similar tasks to those carried out by volunteers at The Trust. 

Red Kite Haydown

In 1989, as member of the local Pinner RSPB group I heard about the proposed release of Red Kites in the Chilterns.  I joined the team and this started my love for these birds.  I was also involved with the 1994 release.

I retired in 1998 after spending 38 years in Kodak where I managed to introduce Birds of Prey, Harris Hawks, into the Harrow factory.  I found a company is Essex who offered a service to sports grounds and factories unsettling pigeons.  We used them to clear loading bays.  As far as I know Harris Hawks still visit the factory once or twice a week.

Michael doing some maintenance in the hospital

On retirement I moved to Hampshire to live.  This brought me closer to The Trust and in 2004 there was the opportunity to be involved with the release of the four Red Kite chicks in Reg’s meadow.  I had been in previously on an irregular basis.   I spent many happy hours watching, radio tracking and writing up all the observations of the birds as they progressed. 

Towards the end of that year I was invited to help out in the Hilary Smith Hospital where I still help Mike Riley out on a regular basis.

Michael treating a Barn Owl

My tasks include anything from feeding the patients to cleaning bays and routine maintenance.   I also get involved with the release of wild birds once they are fully fit.  They are taken back to where they were found, or somewhere nearby.  It gives me a real boost just to see a bird that came in very unwell fly off back into the countryside.   I guess that the most famous bird I helped to look after was the Osprey which came in to us in September 2004.

I am still enjoying my work in the hospital and feel very privileged to be working there.  If you regularly read the web page you will see my monthly hospital updates about the patients and the work being carried out.  I also give illustrated talks to groups around Hampshire and beyond about The Trust and its work.