WHO?  ME?  (PART 2)

During the hospital tours I had, of course, included the Treatment Room and seen the various chicks as they developed from squeaking bunches of fluff that only a mother could love, into raptors of all shapes sizes and denominations. Particularly I remember Tolkien the Milky Eagle Owl, the two Great Grey Owls and the skill and patience of Hilary and Brenda in the way they raised the little guys. Tolkien is now in the flight programme.

Early in Spring 05 I was asked if I would like to assist in returning rehabilitated birds into the wild. WOULD I?  Try me. Somewhen in April/May that year I was accompanying Mike to Heathrow to collect a bird imported from Rumania (I think). During the run Mike asked me casually, if I was asked to release a bird into the wild, how far I would be prepared to go. I thought a bit, doing mental arithmetic, and volunteered a two hour run in any direction, which I have based on an average speed of 40pmh, then put if out of my mind.

Jan Jacobs and Buzzard

A few weeks later Mike again “would I release a Buzzard into the wild near Mere?” Piece of cake for me as Mere is on my way home. He settled the bird into a lightweight carry box, and I pinpointed the area in which it had been found (as luck would have it, Charnage Down with a convenient layby and a Byway leading from it). I tried to contact the finder to see if he would like to watch the release. But he was at work. The Buzzard was seemingly quite at ease in the box, so I put it in my boot and trundled off. Having arrived at the layby and parked up I went to open the hatch. Himself, having been quiet the whole trip, was now trying to open the box. I lifted it out and, with the bird now doing its best to kick its way out, I moved as fast as I could to get a safe distance from the road. About 150 yards in we stopped and I started to open the box. Before I could get it fully opened, he was through the gap and heading for the sound barrier. A curving turn brought his heading parallel with a fence at right angles to the byway. He flew along the fence and settled on one of the posts. By the way he sat I knew he was home. I have had a similar reaction from each bird I have released, and am sure they know where they are. No doubt in my mind that they have their very own GPS, or Inertial Navigation System.

WOW! Talk about being hooked.

I have done a few releases since then, getting the same jubilant kick as I watch them get airborne, flying free. Now Mike only has to ring and say “could…” and I have cancelled all engagements and am on my way to Sarson Lane.

Embarrassing moments? Well one so far.

From time to time I have had the privilege of going out in the Land Rover to watch the launch of the Bald Eagles.

On this occasion Cedric was the handler. When we parked on the launch site he asked me if I would make the R/T call. You bet! Having used R/T on and off for most of my working life, in the RAF, on Tornado Simulators and other jobs. Make way for the expert! I picked up the handset “Thruxton Tower this is the Hawk Conservancy - over”
  “Hawk Conservancy this is Thruxton - over”
  “Thruxton ………….. Glug!” I ruddy well froze! After a life of W/T and R/T traffic I FROZE! Scarlet to my toes, I finally choked out “permission to release the Bald Eagle”
  “Hawk Conservancy, Thruxton, go ahead”

   “Roger…out”.

Ah well, you can’t win ‘em all.