The Accipiter - Online magazine from The Hawk Conservancy Trust

January 2006

Happy New Year to all our readers; we hope that 2006 brings you many fine days of raptor-filled skies!

And talking of raptor-filled skies, we have just released the six Red Kites (including the white one) mentioned in previous issues of this magazine. For the past few weeks they have been in a large aviary at the top of the park. The food has been placed on top of the mound we use during our flying demonstrations, so that they can see the birds feeding. We hope this will encourage them to come back for a meal whenever they need to. But of course we also hope that in time they will all start finding their own food sources too.

After the freezing conditions we experienced at the end of November, December started with a stormy theme. The up side was that almost all of the leaves dropped from the trees, the very day before our leaf-raking day, which was on Saturday 3rd December. About 75 members braved the elements and mud and spent the day hauling heavy bags of sodden leaves down through the park to the maintenance area. What started as a small pile of leaves gradually grew, until by mid afternoon there was a veritable mountain of them. Everyone enjoyed the usual fish and chips lunch and the park now looks much smarter and tidier thanks to their efforts.

Aviary refurbishment is coming along a treat, with aviaries taking on new appearances; many of them are now being made taller, which gives the birds more space and they seem to really enjoy the higher perches. All are being re-perched, many are having gravel on the ground which will make them easier to keep clean and weed-free, and some have new shrubs and trees in them. The eagle and hawk mews look very smart with their extended gravel areas and the eagles are being given new ‘runners’ within the bays which means they have greater movement and choice of perches to fly to.

The study centre is the next area to be attacked. Downstairs is currently being re-wired and clad internally to make it better lit and insulated. It should look quite different and fresh by the time the park opens to the public in February.

All the major work really needs to be more or less finished by Christmas. Although that is only about half way through our closed season, by the time everyone returns to work after the holiday period there will only be about six weeks to go before the park reopens.

During these six weeks all the flying team birds have to be worked with so that they will be ready to start displaying again. It is a process which takes time. Having been rested and fed up during the winter, they will have to be brought back down to flying weight, which is a gradual process. They will also start being flown again daily, to get them fit for the new season.

Many birds are moved about during the winter, so their signs will have to be moved too. Other general signs around the park also need to be cleaned up, replaced, repainted etc. and new signs added where necessary. The coffee shop and gift shop always need some work such as redecoration, along with other public areas such as the toilet blocks, so there is never a shortage of work for staff and volunteers prior to opening.

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