| Spring
is definitely here, with Reg’s wildflower meadow beginning
to show its true colours. The cowslips are in full bloom, which
makes for a spectacular backdrop in our Valley of the Eagles demonstration.
And with the good weather we’ve been having recently and
the addition of various new birds to the show, such as the fabulous
Hooded Vultures, it is an even more breathtaking event than in
previous years.
The new seating arrangement is proving a big success and the
Bald Eagles look just magnificent on good thermal days, stooping
in to the fist to finish off the display.
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| Cheyenne landing on Sam's fist in Reg's
meadow |
The breeding season is also in full swing, with the pair of wild
Kestrels in Reg’s meadow now on eggs; a camera is installed
in the nest box and you can see what’s going on in the box
if you go into the main hide and look at the monitor. The best
is yet to come though, as once the chicks hatch you can look out
of the hide and see the adults collecting food at our ‘Red
Kite, wild raptor and heron feed’ each afternoon at 4:30pm,
then watch them on the monitor as they take food into the box
for their chicks.
Meanwhile, the training of new birds continues. Mindy, a Brahminy
Kite is being worked by Kim Kirkbride in the woodland arena and
is well on her way to being ready for joining in with the displays.
She is catching food in the air and fishing for it from the pond
beautifully.
In the lower flying ground, the Barn Owls have a new arrangement
for making their appearance at the 12:00 noon flying display.
Instead of flying out of the shepherd’s hut as they used
to, they now appear from a tailor-made Barn Owl nesting box.
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