Members Newsletter August 2006

The Editors Notes

Welcome to the December edition of the Raptor Foundation Newsletter.

In this edition we have a variety of contributions covering several different aspects of the Foundation, and this includes a poem written by Helen Kerr in honour of 'Moth', the male Harris Hawk who usually flies second in the 12 o'clock flying demonstrations at the Centre.

For those of you who don't know him, he is very intelligent and a lovely bird to fly - very much both a staff/volunteers and audience favourite. However, the story goes that the first time he was taken out hunting he was stared down by a rabbit, and rather than going in for the kill, he turned tail and flew off in the opposite direction as fast as he could!! To mark that event, and as a tribute to Moth himself, Helen has penned the poem included here.

Special thanks must go to Doug White and a team of volunteers from RAF Wyton that he 'persuaded' to spend a day at the Centre renovating the small wooden hut (known as the 'Wendy House') behind the bottom weatherings to make it potentially habitable again for use as a staff room.

This apparently was one of the first constructions on the site when the Foundation moved to its present home from Ramsey, so it good to see that it has been revitalised. This also goes for the interior, as Helen Kerr managed to acquire from her former employer a set of lockers, chairs and tables, and various electrical items so that little wooden hut could now almost be a home from home. Thanks go to Intervoice in Cambridge for all the equipment and furniture (Liz's office is now nicely furnished too!!!).

Centre News

Where has this year gone, it seems to have flown by, Christmas already. I must apologise about this newsletter being late, you should have received it in November, but it has been a little bit hectic here.

I thought that I would recap what has gone on over the last year.

In February Dave and myself were on the BBC's B&B the Best, the centre has not looked back since then. I think it has been shown about 3 times this year.

23 Squadron and RAF Waddington have adopted Captain scarlet as their emblem is a red bird, and although she is not completely red, her face and legs are. In January 2007 she is off to see the Queen at Waddington, she will be in the colours of the Squadron red and blue.

If you have visited in the evenings for one of our twilights you should have noticed that there is now lights in the car parking area. Our thanks go to The Friends of the Raptor Foundation for helping towards the cost of installation.

We have also had to look at our sewage problem, rather smelly according to our neighbours. A new treatment works has been installed, and apparently you can drink the water that comes out into the dyke. No one has taken up this offer. Thanks again to the Friends of for their contribution to this.

In August we held our 10th Birthday celebrations. I forgot to book the weather for that weekend. We opened as usual but went back to the old way of entrance by donation in an envelope. Although we were busy, we wont be using the envelopes again. There where various activities on that weekend. A bric a brac raised over £150.00 and have brought all the bird feeders you see scattered around the centre. We also held our Annual General Meeting that weekend, where the members were able to meet the Trustees and ask any questions about the centre. The sad thing was that out of 400 hundred members only a hand full of about 25 turned up, most of these are core members that are also on the committee for the Friend of the Raptor Foundation. Even the temptation of a free BBQ did not bring you out. It has been decided that we shall look at the membership again and see where we can change a few things.

On a more sad note, those of you that have visited recently might have noticed that Roo my muloccan cockatoo is not is the gift shop anymore, its not that he wanted a day at home but due to an incurable illness we had to do the right thing. We have set him to rest in the courtyard so that he can always keep a watchful eye on us.

We have had a very busy year with out door shows; I think that various teams are looking forward to a well-earned rest. Little do they know but the dairy is already filling up for 2007. Can you help us with any of the shows either on the stand selling goods or just handing out leaflets and generally talking to the public?

I am looking forward to the New Year and wish you all a Prosperous New Year.

Liz McQuillan (Chief Executive)

Hospital News

Since the last newsletter, we have had the following into the hospital. The 2 surprising 'visitors' were the kingfisher and pigeon, which both unfortunately died.

10^th Anniversary Event

Earlier this year, in the middle of August, to celebrate the Raptor Foundations' 10th anniversary of being on the current site, we had a celebration weekend. For the two days, entrance was by donation, and we organised events for all the family.

However, we got off to a bad start on the Saturday when the weather decided to go against us. But we decided to carry on: out came the bouncy castle and we struggled to keep everything weighted down in the wind. Luckily, the weather cleared on Saturday afternoon, and by Sunday we almost had sunshine!

At one point on the Saturday, we all had a lot of fun trying to get Vanessa the Vulture out of the indoor flying arena, as she thought it was too wet to go back outside. We also opened for the first time our Education Room and the mayor even paid us a visit and had a look around, making a point of talking to all of us volunteers.

On the Sunday, we had a Viking re-enactment group come in to entertain us, and everyone enjoyed watching people pretending to die on the flying area!

Overall, everyone who came enjoyed themselves, and many people donated plenty of money to go on the bouncy castle, and even the crazy golf had a few customers (though all found it impossible!). However, now I (along with everyone else) am left expecting the same sort of thing for the 11^th and 12^th anniversaries!

Michael Frost
Volunteer

An Ode to Moth

"You've gone and done it again", I cursed
"You've left me here alone"
My feet and ears are freezing
No doubt, you're safe at home.

I asked you straight this morning
I begged you to behave,
Your eyes said "Let's get goin', bud!"
And I thought "Thank God! I'm saved!".

I put you in your travel box
And loaded you in the van
You were full of good intentions -
And you know what's said of them!

The noble falconer with his hawk
Surveyed the rabbit strewn farm.
I swear I wasn't feeling smug -
Well, all right - I was smugly calm!

The other guys were standing there
With knowing little smirks.
"This time he's gonna do it" I said,
Thinking "Stick that in your pipes, you berks!"

Pride comes before a fall, they say,
But why's the landing rough?
You think there'd be a safety net
So it doesn't come quite so tough.

The dog and ferrets worked so hard -
They really did their stuff.
The ferrets chased them out the holes
And the Springer did a flush.

I cast you off, and off you flew,
Chasing in hot pursuit -
Bunny jinked left and then went right
Any you - lovely bird - followed suit!

He finally turned and stood his ground
As any brave bunny will
And you, you great soft lumpen,
Decided you'd had your fill.

You squawked and stalled,
Then turned and fled -
It was the last I saw of you.
The next time that I see you, you'll be snug in bed!

We really need to talk this through
Like men - stand eye to eye.
The other hawks all laugh at you
And I can really understand why!

'Hawks are vicious killers'
Let's get that fact quite straight.
They're NEVER scared of bunnies
And DON'T rely on their mates.

It's the last time I'm gonna say it
And you need to understand -
That your phobia about rabbits,
Has left me quite unmanned.

I get home cold and dejected,
The ferret's laffed all the way home,
The guys, they all went down the pub
While I slunk home alone.

Please, I beg you, little man -
I know you have a heart
Don't waste it on the bunnies -
Just try and ACT the part.

Helen Kerr
Volunteer

A Junior Raptors' Experience

I first became a Junior Raptor in January 2005 when I received a year's membership as a Christmas present. I hoped I would be handling and flying some of the birds on my first visit, but was very disappointed!! All I can remember about my first visit was spending most of my time scrubbing owls' droppings.

I stuck with it and as the months went by, things became more interesting. We began by learning the equipment names and practising the falconers knot. Four months in, I flew my first bird, a kestrel, and started having a go at making jesses and anklets.

After flying that first kestrel I had the chance to fly larger and more interesting birds. I've now flown everything from a raven to a 6lb European Eagle Owl. I'm looking forward to flying an eagle or a falcon with a lure sometime in the future.

As well as cleaning out cages one of the less appealing aspects is the feeding. Pulling off legs, heads and gutting over a hundred day-old chicks, yuck!

Twelve months in, I eventually stopped cleaning out cages altogether and started giving talks and tours to the public. I've even earned myself some tips from some groups I've shown around.

I've really enjoyed kitting up the birds and admiring their shape and beauty from close up. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to get up closer to the beautiful birds at the Raptor Centre.

Ben Kansu - aged 12
Junior Raptor

The Friends of The Raptor Foundation

'Please will you write a piece for the Newsletter' - a request from Liz that I had up to now failed to do on more than one occasion, but I have now put pen to paper.

Four hundred plus members of the Raptor Foundation will read this and say 'I didn't know that, I will see if I can help!' Then again, on past record, most if not all the people involved with the Raptor Foundation will read this and come to the same conclusion as I am fast coming to “ 'Good try, but carry on as before', no-one will help because the membership only want to take, not give anything at all to something they find interesting and worthy of giving fifty pence an week to - that is all well and good and it helps”.

The downside is that about half of the membership ticked the box and joined the 'Friends of the Raptor Foundation'. Introduction packs are sent out to each new member, all in the hope that some will give up a small of that very scarce commodity - time, quality time at that.

Both Liz and myself are exasperated at the lack of feedback we get from members; we hoped that giving free food in the way of a barbeque might draw a few new faces to the meeting to give us a lift and to give the Foundation a second look.

So what would we expect of YOU after a second look. Not a lot in the total plan of things - a few hours a month at the Centre or helping at one of our offsite venues. To start the ball rolling, contact the Foundation and ask for Liz, or telephone me; my home number can be found in the introduction packs. We have jobs lined up for you; if you have a skill let Liz or Dave know and you will be welcomed with open arms (in the nicest possible way). If not, then we can give you a Raptor Foundation skill; we have many to fill.

Peter Harding
Chairman,
Friends of the Raptor Foundation