The Accipiter - On The Park September 2005

On the Park - September 2005

The art of growing old gracefully is something that both Clive Chester and his charges can teach the younger members of staff and the raptors on the park...

THE OLD BRIGADE AT THE HAWK CONSERVANCY

I am one of the older residents at the park. The blossom of youth has garn from my cheeks, the spring has sprung from my step and it takes longer for me to get my “normal sunny disposition”. In fact don’t talk to me prior to 10.30am (our morning coffee break) as you may only get a grunt in reply, if you are lucky. These signs of old age, or maturity as I like to say, not only affect us humans but also our feathered residents.

Each falconer has responsibility for a section of the park and mine is the ‘top’ section.
We normally only name the birds we use in demonstrations. However most of the birds I look after are named because they have character, and so that we can identify them to the volunteers/work experience students who help out in this section. Most of the older birds seem to have migrated up to my area. I would like to explain some of their stories and quirky behaviours.

SALLY

The first is Sally our Himalayan Griffon Vulture

Sally is the second largest of the birds at the park after the Condors. Last winter she was put in one of the new larger aviaries along with last year’s young Griffon Vulture Hector, not for breeding but just for company. Vultures hate being on their own. When you see them together she is the larger and paler bird; they are the same genus but geographic location has changed their looks. Sally is paler because at the higher range they would be around snow, and larger to help keep her core temperature regulated more easily in the cold. Her history is chequered; she has been at the park this time for about two years and prior to this she did stay for a short time with us a few years ago.

Hector (L) and Sally

Her owner could see she was losing condition and was very lethargic so asked us for help. With some TLC and the company of other vultures she quickly recovered, so much so her owner found a breeding partner for her. This however did not work out as the male attacked her and in fact almost killed her. That’s when she was returned to us. Her state was so poor that we kept her in the hospital and recovery area for about 15 months to recover from her wounds.

As I said earlier they don’t like being alone so that’s where Hector comes in as company. Sally does not fly around the aviary as much as Hector at present but her strength is increasing and she has been seen on occasions on the top perches. But best of all is that her attitude is changing. She is starting to interact with and dominate Hector, but also when I feed her in the morning she will display towards me, which I encourage and respond to. Look out for further improvements in future reports in this magazine.

DORRIT

Then there’s Dorrit - the Red Kite at our 2pm display

Dorrit has been at the park for many years, and is thought to be about 26years old. She and a mature male were both brought over from Europe, as a nucleus for an imaginative idea for a breed and release programme for this species by Reg Smith, some twenty odd years ago. The pair were together unsuccessfully for many years; she did lay eggs but all were infertile. Six years ago the male died from what the vet called total organ failure but we called old age.

Dorrit

At this time Ashley was re-invigorating his father’s idea and obtained another 8 younger birds. We tried Dorrit with a succession of young males all to no avail. So we decided she was too old to breed, took her out of the programme and she is now flying in displays. The programme elsewhere has been a success and captive bred birds at The Hawk Conservancy have been successfully put back into the wild. In fact on good days Dorrit will be flying close to the audience and the wild Red Kites will come to investigate and fly over the audience’s heads.

But what I really want to mention is Dorrit’s attitude. She is a cantankerous, moody and bloody-minded bird. Some days she likes you and shows enjoyment in your company, on other days she will fly at you not to you. She will try to land on your head and dig her talons in to your scalp or face; she does not mind which as long as you bleed. At which time she calls out as only a Kite can. This behaviour is only shown to people she is comfortable with and trusts. She is aloof to the general public.
Even with this attitude and behaviour all who fly Dorrit love her to bits. She is only showing her independent spirit, and we would not wish her to change.

PADDY and TREVOR

The next birds have truly been retired. They are Paddy a Steppes/Tawny Eagle and Trevor a Bateleur Eagle. Paddy and Trevor are in an aviary together as they are both past breeding and you will see these two species together in Africa; Steppes/Tawny Eagles migrate down to Africa from Europe during our winters.

Paddy (L) and Trevor are old friends

Paddy we know is a mix of species - a hybrid. We are not sure of the mix, he could have Spotted Eagle in him as well as many more. He came to use in an unusual way. An Irish worker, who saw him being abused, rescued him from a Middle Eastern bazaar. In fact he had been deliberately damaged on the wing as they wanted him to sit on holidaymakers’ fists to have their pictures taken. After purchasing the bird the Irishman kept him for a time, but his contract was due to expire so he wanted to find a permanent home for the bird. He contacted us and we said yes, but this was not an end to the problem, as the Irishman had to get permission to take the bird out of the country. In the end he had to get written Royal consent, which he got and still the letter is part of Paddy’s paperwork. Paddy was named in recognition of what the gentleman did, and it’s the most appropriate Irish name we could think of. He has very limited flight but his aviary has been sympathetically perched. His wing does droop down on one side very noticeably.

Trevor is the oldest bird on the park and has been resident for the longest time. He was pre-modern paperwork and was probable wild taken. We acquired him as one of a pair of mature

But like all old friends, they don't always see eye to eye

Bateleurs who were two of the first birds obtained by Reg Smith when starting the park. Many years they were together with no breeding success. It looked as if they did not get their timing right, as the male has to come into condition at the same time as the female. Then one year during our winter an egg was laid, we took this egg and put it under a broody chicken. Once it started pipping it was taken to a hatching incubator. This worked and Hilary, Ashley’s Mother raised this chick who was named Mowgli. After many further years trying for more youngsters without success, Trevor fell very ill and was taken into care. The female’s health also declined so we put them together in care and she instantly recovered. He had a heart condition but with care he too recovered. So we put them back outside, monitoring him all the time. All went back to normal, she dominated him pushing him off his food or perch and generally bullying him. She died a few years ago and Trevor instantly got a new lease of life. However during winter we have to take extra care, not only of Trevor but all the birds. The cold will bring out any underlying problems, which is one of the biggest killers of captive stock and wild birds.

Today, recognizing staff Trevor still throws his head back and calls, his face blushing red in excitement. You will see Trevor & Paddy happily sitting next to each other. Then one will (softly for an eagle) bite the other’s wing, as if to check if they are still there. Then the other responds and these two firm friends settle down again for some quiet contemplation together.

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