Members Newsletter May 2008

Centre News

The centre is starting to get busier as we move through May and things are looking up. We start our news by saying that Elmo, one of the birds has been retired due to ill health. He has been part of the flying team for the last 18 years.

Hospital News

February 2008 - April 2008.

The Stork visits the Raptor Foundation

Siberian/Turkmanian Eagle Owls were the first birds born this year at the Raptor Foundation, followed shortly after by two baby Harris Hawks.

Earlier this month the kookaburras hatched their first baby of the year but kicked it out of the nest. We hand reared it for a few days, but unfortunately it died. Fingers crossed they go down again this year.

Meet the team..

Graeme and Laura Hammond, Volunteers

In this issue we caught up with father and daughter volunteers Graeme and Laura and asked them about their experiences at the Raptor Foundation and why they volunteer; here is what they had to say.

Graeme

How did you first hear about the Raptor Foundation?
Kind of heard about it a long time ago when it was in Ramsey, then did a couple of experience days, one here and one at Eagle Heights in Kent. Then my daughter started working as a volunteer for the Duke of Edinburgh and I eventually started doing the same.

How do you contribute?
Usually one day at the weekend and during school holidays - doing whatever's asked of me from cleaning aviaries and chopping rabbits to going to shows and flying birds in displays.

Why do you help?
I get a great sense of enjoyment out of working with the birds whether it's making an aviary look better, helping a child find an answer for the quiz sheet or talking about the birds during a display - I also feel a sense of satisfaction being trusted to fly such beautiful creatures.

Favourite Raptor?
Sid and The babies Snitch and Bludger.

Why?
Sid because he has such a great character - one time he can fly brilliantly for you the next he's off on top of an aviary messing about.
The babies because I've seen them grow up and watching them fly to your fist with those great orange eyes locked on target is awe-inspiring.

What has been your best experience so far?
The first time I flew Poppy (a Lanner falcon) to the lure. Flying birds to the fist is amazing but this took it to a new level. It was so brilliant I forgot to breath and forgot to keep hold of the stick when I called her in; and ended up going down the park to fetch her in.

Tell us something else about yourself?
My other great love is the theatre and I have directed many shows locally including for the first time a "Panto Babes in the Wood" at the Burgess Hall - Now I just need to get birds and theatre joined up!

Laura

How did you first hear about the Raptor Foundation?
I heard about the Raptor Foundation through Becky, a friend, who also works up at the centre. I also started as part of my Duke of Edinburgh award.

How do you contribute?
I help out with cleaning, flying and sorting out food.

Why do you help?
I help because I enjoy what I do.
I like seeing the way different birds behave towards different people and seeing them fly.

Favourite Raptor?
Sweep.

Why?
She likes me but hates my dad, which is very amusing to watch.

What has been your best experience so far?
The 12 hour flying display where Sweep flew over a metre and a half to me (the furthest she has ever flown for me).

Tell us something else about yourself?
I really enjoy listening and making music.
At the moment I play the flute and I am planning to take my grade 5.
I also play the drums and I have just started the keyboards.

Birds Eye View

Hello I'm Thunder, I am a Harris Hawk. I was a rescue bird; my previous owner who lived in Stevenage was moving and couldn't take me with him so the Raptor Foundation very kindly took me.

I'm here to tell you about my species, the Harris Hawk.

The Harris Hawk is native to the central part of the Americas, southern North America down throughout much of South America. Like many other raptors, the population of Harris Hawks is currently on the decline. There are two subspecies of Harris Hawk, Parabuteo unicinctus harrisi and generally referred to as Harris Hawk & Parabuteo unicinctus unicinctus and is generally referred to as Bay-Winged Hawk.

In the wild, Harris Hawks prey on small rodents, such as rats & mice, lizards, small birds and small mammals. In the wild we can live up to 12 years, in captivity we can live for twice that long. On average we are 19-22" (48-56cm) in length, with a wingspan of 43-47" (110-120cm).

Harris Hawks build a simple platform nest of sticks, twigs, weeds and roots and lined with moss or similar, rarely more than 30 feet (10 metres) above the ground where we lay between two and four eggs. Incubation is about four weeks. Feather growth is rapid, and by 17 days the feather cover is enough for the young to start wing exercising. The young leave the nest at about 40 days old.

Since being introduced into falconry in this country around 35 years ago, Harris Hawks have become one of the most popular falconry birds here, due to our size, intelligence and temperament an ideal beginner's bird. Although generally amiable, we can be temperamental, females being particularly prone to aggression in adulthood and young birds can have very anti-social manners.