One of the many benefits of membership of the Trust is being invited to members’ evenings.  They are invariably both fun and informative, and 2nd September was no exception. 

The evening kicked off with a barbeque, plus wine and soft drinks and a chance to chat to staff and trustees.   Raffle tickets sold, everyone went to the flying ground for the main event. 

Our friends from Mullencote Gundogs were at the park, but not only to entertain us and show off their own skills with dogs.  They decided that, since so many of the park staff are dog owners, it was about time they also gave a display of their prowess with their pets.  In the event it was more a fashion accessory parade than anything skilful, with a couple of exceptions (notably Anya with her dog Lenny), and scores were given and prizes awarded accordingly.  Later in the evening the Mullencote staff put the HC staff to shame when they displayed their own dogs, with the help of some members of the audience.  Of course the HC staff redeemed themselves when it came to the flying.  Lark the Peregrine gave his usual breathtaking display, then audience participation featured again when Tolkien the Milky Eagle Owl was flown to guests. 

Some birds we use for Activity Days are not currently flown in display so this was a chance for them to be seen in the arena.  Tolkien is one, but also Frodo the Tawny Eagle, who has previously been in the display team, came on to show how he used to do it.  He did look a bit confused when Clive asked him to show the audience his ‘tightest turning eagle’ trick, but remembered exactly how to chase the remote-controlled bunny across the arena, causing some hilarity.  And the operator of the bunny managed to avoid driving it into the pond, which has been the occasional finale to Frodo’s display in the past. 

Some of the newest additions made their debut appearances.  Cedric is training our largest owl, Cinnamon the Siberian Eagle Owl; it was also his first time in front of a big crowd, and he performed beautifully.  Kym and Jane are training two of our smallest owls, Paprika and Clove the Burrowing Owls.  It was too windy to fly them free so they stayed on their leashes, again for the first time in front of a large group. 

A year after our first group of post-graduate research students delivered the results of their Tawny Owl project, we were treated to a presentation from this year’s group.  Both years have seen the successful release of Tawny Owls into the same areas of woodland.  Details of the continuing project, written up by the students, can be read in the Research section of this magazine.

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