The Accipiter - On The Park December 2007

On the Park - May 2008

Like many collections, the Hawk Conservancy Trust is divided into sections with one or two members of staff being responsible for each section. One of the main advantages of this from the stock’s point of view is continuity, with staff getting to know their animals well and therefore being able to quickly spot any changes or potential problems with individuals. From the staff point of view, there are equal advantages in the formation of bonds with the animals, and falconer Jimmy Robinson is very happy to be the lucky one forming bonds with some of our most spectacular raptors…

The Hawk Conservancy Trust houses many birds of prey ranging from some of the smallest to the very largest of all. The countries they live in range from the hottest to the coldest on the planet, so to cater for all the birds needs and to guarantee they all get the best possible care and attention, the grounds of the trust are split up into sections.

My role as deputy head of section for the “Mews and Weathering Lawns” offers a chance to work with some of the world’s most fantastic raptors in a more hands-on way. One of the best aspects to working ‘on section’ means we establish strong bonds with the birds and form relationships that let us find out their individual temperaments, characters and habits. In my eyes, the best section of all is the Mews and Weathering Lawns because they house many of the Trust’s display and experience day birds, such as Othello the African Fish Eagle, Frodo the African Tawny Eagle, and Lark the Peregrine Falcon. During the summer months all these birds are on display both in their flying routines and whilst resting on their blocks, however during the winter months they are sometimes rested to moult or to take a well earned break.


African Fish Eagle Othello Photo by Philip Jefferies	Tawny Eagle Frodo Photo by Gemma Bird	Peregrine Falcon Lark Photo by David Sharp

Frodo shows how tightly he can turn - photo by John Harper

Many of these birds have quite particular habits and characters. Othello is a very nervous bird but loves to call first thing on a morning when woken up to start a day’s work. His call is a favourite with many members of staff, who have their own version of it to respond to Othello (Ashley’s being the most dramatic of all!).

We are just a few weeks away from the busiest time of year, and the two American Bald Eagles Cheyenne and (the legendary) Danebury have only just ventured out of their winter resting homes to join the other birds on the Weathering Lawn to partake in amazing displays of stooping and soaring in the new and improved 2pm “Valley of the Eagles” demonstration which opened for the Easter break. Bald eagles are strong powerful birds with temperaments to match. However, Danebury is an easy going old gent with a wonderful nature, similar to the Fish Eagle in vocal ability. Danebury will throw his head back in display calling out at the same time which is definitely a sight to be seen. On the opposite end of the mews there is Cheyenne. Now Cheyenne and I have an agreement; we both have the utmost respect for each other, and we are on speaking terms but she would rather not work with me if it were her choice. She is an awesome example of power and beauty in a bird of prey.


Bald Eagle Danebury Photo by Tony Sanson	Bald Eagle Cheyenne Photo by Carl Longden	Jimmy with Cheyenne Photo by Hugh Osborne

Bald Eagle standing on a wooden block in front of her mews accommodation

Cheyenne sits comfortably in her mews - photo by Lou Richie

At the trust we have two Mews blocks which serve a purpose to keep the birds sheltered from bad weather, and to make sure they are locked away from both four- and two-legged predators. The term “Mews” is a word for a raptor's housing. It comes from a French word “muer” which means to change or moult (i.e. where the hawk was kept whilst in moult). The weathering lawn is used exactly as its name suggests, giving our birds the chance to weather in all of our elements, whilst also having an opportunity to shelter in a open fronted shelter if they should require it. They are assisted in movement between the shelter and weathering block by a long runner giving them movement while still being tethered. All of our tethered birds are flown, up to 3 times a day in some cases, giving them the exercise they require, with constant access to clean water/bathing bowls. At the end of their flying season many of the birds on the mews are put into free flight enclosures and take a break.

Click here for previous On the Park articles