Well I am still here, as I am glad to say are most of all the old timers I wrote about in my last article.

Unfortunately Sally the Himalayan Griffon Vulture died recently. She started to lose condition even though she had a good appetite. So she was caught up and put in the hospital to be given some TLC. As a matter of routine, blood was taken to test for any hidden problems. Prior to the result being known she very quickly deteriorated and died. An autopsy has been completed and the results show that due to old age her digestive system had completely shut down. So she was getting no nutrient from her food. Nothing could have physically been done to change the outcome. Even knowing this does not help when you work so closely with these birds on a daily bases. You always feel responsible being their keeper.

Trevor our elderly Bateleur Eagle

During this winter it has not been the wet but the cold conditions that have caused the problems for Trevor the Bateleur Eagle. On two occasions he has looked a little scrammed and required the warm and dry conditions of the hospital for his old bones, as the cold can exacerbate any minor underlying problems. After a few days in the hospital’s tender care he has returned with no ill effects.

Sally’s demise meant that there was a large aviary with only one vulture in; Hector (Griffon). As vultures prefer to be kept in sociable groups for them to interact, we have decided to put Kipling (Griffon) and Mrs Simpson & Mildred (Andean Condors) all in together with Hector. We are also working with all these 4 birds hopefully to get them out and flying in a display showing natural Vulture behaviour in a few months.

Thinking of happier things. It is so nice in the morning when I am walking round checking and feeding the section to look up and see the Red Kites. These are some of the birds we released during this winter, along with Haydown who we released three years ago now. During the colder months we give them some extra food in the meadow area to help them. So we see them most mornings. They all seem to be doing well and look like they enjoy annoying the local Buzzard and Rook population.

It’s a bit early in the season for most birds to be thinking of breeding but two are.
The breeding pair of Griffons have been seen mating and have started collecting nesting materials. So hopefully they will breed again this year. As we have all the Griffons we require, any young in the future will be joining a release programme run by EAZA in Southern Europe.

The Milky Eagle Owls are starting to call and their eyelids are beginning to colour up. These are all good signs for a coming season.

Rusty on a hunting expedition

An old friend has come to stay in the section for a few weeks holiday; Rusty the Redtail Hawk. Those who have been coming to the park for a few years will remember him. He was the male in our breeding pair, in with the biggest and most aggressive female you could imagine. For the last few years, he has been cared for by Jon Scott and his family at their home. Not only has Jon built a nice big aviary for Rusty but also takes him out in the local fields close to their house to fly free and chase the local rabbit population, with very little success. Well he is well into his late twenties, Rusty that is not Jon!

There have been a few other changes to stock for the start of the season.

• White-bellied Sea Eagle (Gypsy) has taken over one of the open top aviaries and looks very happy. We are still looking for a partner for her.
• White-tailed Sea Eagles - a pair including our disabled male have taken over the aviary which the Condors vacated. With the different perching the aviary looks even bigger and better than before. We are hoping in the future this pair will breed but it probably will not be for a few years.
• Red Backed Hawk- these are part of the consignment that HM Customs confiscated from a smuggler last year. These two seemed to pair up in the holding area so we will be keeping them to hopefully breed in the future. One other of the group we are also keeping and it is being trained up for displays by our new falconer James Robinson.
• African Harrier Hawks - these have moved from the middle section.
• Harris Hawks - the breeding pair will be in a show aviary this year.
• Brahminy Kites - all three are in the hooped aviaries to be closer to the top display area.

Gypsy the White-bellied Sea Eagle	Red-backed Hawks

When Rusty goes home after his holidays this aviary will become free. So we hopefully will have a new species in then. If you visit, look and see. It’s the aviary next to the Buzzards.

One of the best jobs done over the winter was the tarmac paths being extended to the whole of the top section, not only giving better access but also tidying up the whole area.

Some structural changes are to come during the open season - we will be putting up two new hooped aviaries in the old rose garden area.

The rest of the Section stays the same, but keep watching this space.

Clive Chester