The Accipiter - Online magazine from The Hawk Conservancy Trust

Monthly Diary - November 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.

2nd Nov

Two new young Black Kites arrived at the Trust to join the flying team.

4th & 5th
Nov

Falconer Mike Riley and Curator Andy Hinton attended an EAZA conference in Holland. Under discussion was the use of birds and animals in educational displays at zoological collections.

7th Nov

Kim and Cedric took Morgana the Harris Hawk to Havant for a photo session with Havant Football club. Known as the Hawks they are celebrating reaching the first round of the FA cup.

8th Nov

Ashley gave an evening talk about the Trust to the Royal Southern Yacht Club.

9th Nov

Students attending the Sparsholt College Zoo Keepers course, which include falconer Jane Robertson and Trust Volunteer Lou Ritchie, attended a day behind the scenes visit to the Trust.
Andy travelled to Belfast for 2 days to attend a BIAZA bird working group meeting.

10th Nov

Falconer Sam Hunt met with Major Lewis from the Imber Conservation Group to arrange times when he can help with the monitoring and putting up of owl boxes on Salisbury Plain.

13th Nov

A new wooden floor has been laid in Gift Shop and Study centre.

15th Nov

The Trust hosted Dave Waters from the Great Bustard project and several Russian dignitaries for a tour and the opportunity to watch some birds fly.

18th Nov

The first working day of the season and over 100 members arrived to help. Everyone was set to work: leaf raking, moving telegraph poles, moving logs and branches and helping to put the new woodland owl arena together.

Ashly informing members of new developments for 2007 season

20th Nov

Ashley gave a talk to students of Harrow Way School on conservation and in particular on the reintroduction of the Red Kite.

21st-23rd Nov

Ashley and Tracey attended the BIAZA annual general meeting and awards ceremony. The Trust won a commendation in the photographic section, for best photo of a conservation project.

23rd Nov

Students from Basingstoke College of technology attended a training day at the Trust.

27th Nov

Catching and checking the vultures

under the watchful eye of the BBC

Vultures in their new home, and the making of an exciting vulture reataurant

Ashley and Andy flew to Rome to collect 20 vultures that had been confiscated by the Italian Government, to be re-homed at the Trust. Their journey was filmed by a camera crew from BBC South’s Inside Out programme, as well as being covered by the Italian press and TV. Helped by several Italian officials the birds were caught, health checked and fitted with micro chips, before beginning their long trip back to England. On their arrival they were met by Trust vet John Chitty who health checked all the birds, and took samples of blood and faeces, for sexing and health screening. They were then released into their aviaries to settle into their new home. This does not appear to have taken long, as one of the pairs of African White Backed Vultures seems to be constantly mating, and is showing signs of nest building.

James holds a White-headed Vulture whilst vet John Chitty takes samples for sexing and for health checks

30th Nov

Basingstoke College attended a second training day.
Ashley gave a talk for the Alzheimer’s society in Wildhern for 80 people

Throughout November work continued around the grounds in preparation for new aviaries and displays planned for the 2007 season.

Work continued on the Gift Shop with the walls being painted in preparation for the fitting of wall panels.

The upstairs of the study centre was stripped out in order to refit it for use as a meeting and conference room, and work began on the balcony that can be used for corporate events.

All the old aviaries at the top of the grounds have been knocked down, and work started on 7 new aviaries to replace them, including a huge aviary for the Steller's Sea Eagles.

New fencing has been put in around the new Woodland Owl arena and new seating ordered.

Maurice the tree surgeon visited the Trust for 2 weeks and cut down many of the old trees, as well as removing some from areas where more light is needed.

Training began for the new Harris Hawks and Black Kites that will become display and experience day birds next season.

The old aviaries at the top of the grounds have been demolished ready for their replacement

Training begins. L to R, Clive, Jane, Kim, Cédric and Mike with the new Harris' Hawks

Training begins in earnest. Left to Right, Clive, Jane, Kim, Cédric and Mike manning the new Harris' Hawks

Click here for previous Diary entries