I am giving a hand while the Trust has been closed during the winter months, usually salving my conscience by looking in once a week and often getting frozen for my impudence. However I still enjoy giving a hand, and of course this year the Trust has been open to the public at weekends. Now we’ll be opening full time from Saturday February 16th. I’m not sure how the Valley of the Eagles will be shown as the upper flying ground is under rebuild, and believe you me it is going to be absolutely “top dollar”. Much work is going on and I have seen new aviaries and more clearing being done.

Jan's eye view of the noon demonstration while on gate duty. Gary with black vultures

I have had a few rehabilitated birds to release. I think my marathon was when I took out two birds at one time; a buzzard to the outskirts of Cheltenham, and a kestrel to Martin which is a small nature reserve between Salisbury and Blandford, on the A354. No problem for yours truly as I can dogleg across to Shaston from the said 354, and thence home to Wyke. Oh by the way, Shaston is Dorset for Shaftesbury. Anyway, the buzzard, though docile at the start, became quite stroppy, it sounded as though it was trying to kick its way out. When I reached the release point I lifted the carry box out and had a quick peer in at it through the chinks in the box. To my relief it was OK. When I opened the gate it flew out in a super climbing turn straight into the tree line, uttering what sounded to me like a vile avian oath. Not so much as a “ta”. I ask you.

Those of you who looked in at weekends will know that the bird hospital tours no longer exist, thus minimising the upsetting of the patients, and giving me other jobs to look for. Well apart from my garden patrols, I have done gate duty and ‘holding birds’. We have a new recruit in the barn owl unit, Mulberry a young female just under a year old and learning the trade. She is docile but sometimes pleases herself about the holder and hops back on my fist prematurely.

Jan with guests and holding bird

Last Saturday I had put her on a child’s fist and was in my spiel when I noticed that she had a bit more manoeuvrability. Checking, I found one pop jess was free. Cursing myself quietly I re-popped the jess and carried on. She seemed to be busy on my fist and thinking that her talon was caught, I looked down only to see that she was busy un-popping the thing herself! As cunning as a barrowload of monkeys as my Gran used to say.

Which reminds me, the previous week I was asked to take her back to her aviary in the garden. Armed with a small treat for her off we went and when we got into her aviary I gave her the bribe and popped her jesses. As I moved to the door, squeaking “where’s the rest” she hopped on to my shoulder then onto the perch and as I reached the door she had landed on the back of my fleece. I gently detached her, and put her on the feed shelf where I hoped there would be enough lunch left to keep her busy. Just made it. Next time I’ll stash a bit more, it might come in handy. Ah well we live and learn. I’m glad she wasn’t a Mastiff.