Members Newsletter November 2005

The Editors Page

It's fast approaching the end of yet another year and what an end it has been. Not only did we have great success in the business awards, but we were finally allowed to announce the use of seven of our owls in the latest Harry Potter film. More about this in the centre news.

I am now putting on my other hat (maintenance manager) to thank a few people. Firstly I would like to thank Doug White and his colleges at RAF Wyton for their help in getting the new bald eagle aviary a step closer to completion. I would also like to thank Helen Bullard and Greg Lattimore not only for their help in getting the house ready, but also for donating £100 towards curtains for the house.

Dave Blows
Newsletter Editor

Centre News

Back in December 2004 we were contacted out of the blue by the producers of the new Harry Potter film. They wanted to know if we had any owls that they could use as stand ins for the film. They needed owls that were very good at sitting still for long periods of time. Liz replied, “That's what owls do”. Of course we can let you use some of our owls. We were then told that they needed seven owls from us. After careful consideration we decided they could use Teddy (European Eagle Owl), Sheba (Siberian Eagle Owl), Mr Bones and Tikka (Bengal Eagle Owls), Fred (Great Horned Eagle Owl), Lucky (African Spotted Eagle Owl) and Pepper (Barn Owl). In January we took the owls down to the holding area where all the animals taking part in the film were being looked after. They were used for 3 months and we collected the film stars at the end of March. From then until just a couple of weeks ago we have had to keep tight lipped, but since then we have been inundated by newspapers and TV. This has really been great for the centre and a real boost to visitor numbers.

If that wasn't enough good news we were again short listed for the Huntingdonshire Business Awards this year. On Friday 4^th November we put on our best bib and tucker and went to the awards. This year we hit the jackpot and won 1^st prize in the Sustainable Development Award and not only that we came 3^rd in the Business of the Year Award. This came as quite a shock but at the same time we were over the moon.

We were also sponsored onto an organisation called BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums). This allows us to work with other centres and zoos in the same field as ourselves.

News from two old friends

Dear everybody at the Raptor Foundation

My name is Yossarian. I am the Tawny owl who lives with Athena the other Tawny owl. She wrote the last letter but I've managed to get onto the computer without her knowing. Please find enclosed membership fee for our humans. Athena is still trying on and off to pinch my supper, but I have wised up now, and the mice go straight down before she can get them, and I tend to be a bit quicker off the mark with rats, because they're yummy. I'm not all that enthusiastic about chicks, so I tend to go to sleep with one in my beak, but I jolly soon wake up when Athena sneaks up on me, I can tell you. A few weeks ago the last owl mum and dad saved, Archimedes, was in the area and we called to each other all night… it was very musical and very load, but fortunately we have human neighbours who love the sound of Tawny owls. Mum and dad listened to us for about two hours…….

Lots of love from us both

Yossarian and Athena Brookes

Hospital News

August 2005 - October 2005.