The Accipiter - Online magazine from The Hawk Conservancy Trust

Monthly Diary - May 2006

A general monthly overview of the park by Tracey Smith.

Although this page will always be retrospective, we shall seek to provide important breaking news by news flash on the front cover of the magazine.

1st
May

The last day of our Medieval May Day weekend. Members of the Sir William Gascoigne fellowship are on hand in their tented village, to show visitors day to day life of ordinary medieval folk. There are displays of weaponry, cooking, sewing and archery.

5th
May

The Headmistress of local village school visits to arrange dates for schoolchildren to visit the Trust to carry out a wildflower meadow survey throughout the year.

6th May

Falconer Sam Hunt and volunteer Jon Scott attend the open day at our veterinary practise, with displays about the work of the Trust.

7th May

Devizes Lions’ French Twinning Association visits the Trust.

10th May

	BBC South today film a live broadcast at the Trust to celebrate our 40th Anniversary. Footage of the broadcast can be viewed on the special feature page of The Accipiter.

Presenter Rob Johnson with Tolkien, the Milky Eagle Owl	Ashley & Andy with Rob, relieved that the live broadcast went OK

11th May

Ashley Smith gives a talk about the Trust and its conservation work to the CPRE at Michelmersh Barns.

14th May

Amersham photo society visits the Trust for a photographic day.

15th May

Photo session held at the Trust to raise awareness of the Wessex Heartbeat Cycle challenge. People are being encouraged to take part in the cycle event to raise funds for local charities. Photographed are falconer Kim Kirkbride and Tolkien the Milky Eagle Owl along with representatives from Wessex Heartbeat and Countess of Brecknock Hospice.

18th
to
20th
May

Ashley Smith and Curator Andy Hinton attend the BIAZA conference at Chester Zoo. Ashley is voted onto the BIAZA Council, and the Trust is now represented both on the zoological licensing/ membership steering committee, and on the JMSC( joint management steering committee).

20th May

Lordshill Photographic Club visit Trust for a photographic day.

21st May

Ashley Smith gives a talk about the Trust to Seend WI group.

27th to
29th
May

Top - tracking owls with telemetry

Left - examining owl pellets

Right - a happy youngster takes part in the drawing competition

Mad about Owls weekend - the chance for us at the Trust to celebrate our favourite feathered friends. There are opportunities for visitors to hold a British Owl, learn to identify owls by sight and calls, examine wild owl pellets to learn what owls eat, track released owls with radio transmitters and take part in our Owl drawing competition. The winners of the three age groups are shown below.


Barn Owl catching a mouse by Amy Burton Age 4

Duffy in flight by Chloe Woodruff Age 11	Little Owl on a post by Katie Sims Age 9

Click here for previous Diary entries