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February 2008

Hasn’t winter gone fast ... it only seems like yesterday the Trust entered its ‘closed’ season, and now here we are with bulbs coming up all around us, and only a couple of weeks away from opening up once again. Mind you, the fact that we have been open at weekends all through the winter has made things very different around the park this year. It has meant that we have had to keep the place tidy at all times and small jobs that, in previous winters may have been overlooked, have had to be done immediately. For instance, usually just before opening there is a rush to make sure all the aviary signs are in the right places, as birds getting moved during the winter may not have had their signs moved with them. This year it has had to be done on an ongoing basis.

The downside is that big jobs such as rebuilding two aviaries, for the black kites and the Gymnogenes, are taking longer than perhaps they would have done in the past. The upside to all the extra vigilance is that there will not be the usual mad panic to get everything ready for opening during the first weeks of February, which must be a relief to everyone!

Training of new birds has progressed well over the winter, and the three new black kites are now being used in display, while the four hooded vultures are flying to guests on experience days. Mulberry the barn owl is also a star, and is being taken out on school visits. She quite happily walks in and out of her carrying box, sits on children’s fists and is not fazed at all by large numbers of people. She is also being trained for flying displays.

This month in The Accipiter Campbell Murn tells us about the Trust’s important conservation and research work, and our plans for the future. You can also read about Jane Baugh’s 2007 highlights in Behind the Scenes, while Monica and Brigid take us through the ancient and fascinating art that is hedge-laying.

We hope you will all come and visit us soon.

Lou Richie, Editor

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