The Accipiter - Special Feature August 2005

Special Feature - October 2005

Losing animals through accidental injury, illness or old age is a fact of life in any collection. Whilst any loss is upsetting, particularly if it is a 'personality' bird, rarely are we faced with the sudden loss of a bird of Fraggle's calibre and character. Because he was also a firm favourite with many visitors as well as staff and members, we are reproducing here an appreciation from Bob Rogers that first appeared in our members' closed site...

Fraggle - a personal appreciation

from Bob Rogers

“Good afternoon Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to The Valley of the Eagles display. Our first bird is a white-bellied sea-eagle called Fraggle”.

I have lost count of the number of times I have introduced the two o’clock display with those words. Alas no more. As many of you may know Fraggle sadly passed away having contracted lead poisoning as a result of eating some infected carrion. (A stark reminder of the risks faced by all wild raptors every day). To say he will be missed is an understatement. His loss has devastated all who worked at the park.

I remember Reg once saying that when you work with livestock you will also have dead stock and that one should try not to become to emotionally involved with the birds. Excellent advice but alas with a bird of the character and charm of Fraggle this was impossible.

For the whole of his 16 years at the Hawk Conservancy he delighted and charmed all who saw him fly.

Shortly after his death Sam and I were sitting in the flying ground and talking about him. I’m sure that Sam won’t mind if I quote some of his words. We were talking about how we would miss him and Sam said that the one thing that kept returning to his mind was the fact that somehow he counted himself lucky and privileged that Fraggle had flown for him. Strangely enough although I had never flown him, I too felt a sense of privilege to have seen him and then I realised whether you were falconer, commentator or public, Fraggle actually flew for all of us, and fly he did. You knew with Fraggle that what ever the conditions he would fly his heart out. No one could have failed to be impressed by the sheer artistry of his famous “twisty stoops”, or his ability to catch the food thrown in the air (however inexpertly). Every time, even though I has seen them hundreds of times before, each stoop was as new as the first.

It is difficult to put into words what it is that attracts so many of us to Raptors, their strength, majesty, beauty. What ever it is Fraggle had all those and more.

My abiding memory of him however was none of these. It was of a warm June evening with a crowd of some three hundred watching the first event of our “Fly by night” evening. Fraggle was, as expected, opening the show. For five minutes or so he flew to the theme music of “Dances with Wolves”. To put into words the sheer beauty of those five minutes would be impossible. It was simply breathtaking and will remain with me and I am sure all who witnessed it for the rest of our lives.

Fraggle is no longer with us but life goes on. Already there is the new Bateleur Eagle showing great promise in the initial stages of his training and then there is “Tolkin” the young Milky Eagle Owl” already winning the hearts of the crowd at the two o’ clock display. There is much to be excited about for the future but whenever I am commentating the “Valley of the Eagles” display, Fraggle will always remain in my thoughts.

For all the beauty, joy and excitement you brought to the thousands who saw you, thank you Fraggle

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