A Year In Review

In our last blog, we were pleased to report on some very successful results from our hospital’s raptor rehabilitation program for 2010.  The year just gone was an eventful one in lots of ways and we thought it would be an idea to recapture one or two of its highlights.

The beginning of the year saw the completion of the new falconers’ huts, providing new, updated mews, food preparation room, weighing room, incubator room and general office.  Now, a year later and decked out with all the requisite falconery paraphernalia, they have seen us through blazing summer sun and wintry blasts and still look as good as new and are functioning well for the purposes intended.

Spring is always an exhilarating time, when the Sanctuary starts to come back to life. There’s definitely a buzz in the air as the flying display team birds are reclaimed, ready for the summer season and preparations are made for the new catalogue of events. We're a couple of weeks off from that for this year, but it won't be long before that feeling of anticipation returns to the Sanctuary.

Finding his wings - our spectacular spectacled owl (sorry) is getting to grips with flying free

Finding his wings - our spectacular spectacled owl (sorry) is getting to grips with flying free

We had an exciting program of events in 2010, beginning with our popular Mother’s Day photo-sessions in March and an Easter week full of events for visitors, the young ones in particular.  All through July and the summer holidays, we ran our ‘Summer Sunday Specials’, including the Funforce Crew teaching circus tricks like hula-hooping, tightrope walking, plate spinning and limbo dancing.  We also had brilliant Bouncy Castle Days, face painting and lots of good old fashioned fun with Punch and Judy - all providing some additional entertainment for the families who who made a day of it in the company of our owls and other fascinating birds of prey.

Undoubtedly our most popular and remarkable extra attraction, however, was Jenny’s Ark Pet Zoo, who set up camp with us periodically through the holidays.  Jenny has an astonishing array of animals, everything from giant millipedes, to inquisitive goats and even our youngest visitors can’t resist the chance to hold a slithering boa or feed the ever-ravenous rare sheep.  Our older visitors are also by no means immune to the draw of the wild and who doesn’t like a quiet cuddle with a cute, fluffy bunny?  We have had many enquiries about Jenny’s Ark since her last visit back in August and are pleased to announce that she and her entourage are once again firmly on our list of events for this year!

Jenny of Jenny's Ark Pet Zoo with one of her closest friends...

Jenny of Jenny's Ark Pet Zoo with one of her closest friends...

Of course, no summer visit to the Sanctuary would be complete without the superb flying displays, where visitors have the chance to see some of the world’s most stunning birds of prey stretch their wings as they swoop, stoop, glide & soar in the skies over Stonham. Displays begin on April the 9th this year, but visitors can also see the falconers exercising the birds daily as they up their fitness levels during the next couple of months.

Pleased to Meet You (1) The two Red Kite chicks born at the centre early last year...

Pleased to Meet You (1) The two Red Kite chicks born at the centre
early last year...

Pleased to Meet You (2) Andy and one of the youngsters a little later in the year - "My, how you've grown!"

Pleased to Meet You (2) Andy and one of the youngsters a little later in the year - "My, how you've grown!"

We also attended a number of outshows last year, which gave us a great opportunity to tell people about the Sanctuary and its work and to hand out information about the importance of raptor conservation.  Many people have never seen a bird of prey up close and we tend to spend most of a day out answering questions and posing for pictures.  (Not us of course, just the superb birds in our charge!)

Our education team worked hard to update the education package last yar and the response by teachers and children was really positive and enthusiastic.  Our new teacher pack was also very well received, providing lots of fun and informative activities for kids and plenty of information for teachers. (there can be downloaded from this website - see here for details.

Of the five Red Squirrels born at Stonham last year, two have already been released into the wild as part of the Anglesey Red Squirrel Project

Of the five Red Squirrels born at Stonham last year, two have already been released into the wild as part of the Anglesey Red Squirrel Project

Last, but certainly not least, we had two major surprises last year, which were incredible firsts for the Sanctuary.  One was the arrival of five rumbustuous red squirrels, progeny of a resident pair who form the basis of our breeding colony and two of which have now been released to the organised Red Squirrel release programme on Anglesey: it’s fantastic to be a part of such an important conservation schemes.  Then came the production of our two striking and distinctive Red Kite chicks by their long-time-resident parents, all the more exciting because of their rarity in this particular area. Both are both doing well and will make a special addition to the flying display team as they add to the diversity of raptors demonstrating their individual characteristics and capabilities during these shows.

Ladies who munch - one of Jenny's goats during a popular visit to the Centre during the Summer Holidays

Ladies who munch - one of Jenny's goats during a popular visit to the Centre during the Summer Holidays

Now we look forward to the year ahead but if you too would like to reflect on times past at S.O.S., all of our previous blogs can be found, year by year, on this website.  The links are situated just below the main page listing. But try nd pay us a visit this year - we look forward to seeing you!

A belated Happy New Year!

Hi there! Welcome to the S.O.S. Blog for 2011 as we close one year and look forward to new challenges ahead.

We'd like to start by wishing all our supporters, visitors and donors a belated but heartfelt Happy New Year - your help is greatly appreciated and we hope that you will continue to offer your support in the months ahead.

We'd also like to say an extra-special thanks to the un-sung heroes of S.O.S. - the group of loyal volunteers who come into the Sanctuary fair weather and foul to help out with the many necessary repetitious and often grubby jobs around the Centre which enable us to maintain a clean and healthy environment for the birds in our charge.

Without our volunteer brigade, not only would our life be a lot more difficult but our very existence a lot more tenuous, man- and women-power being one of the more costly resources required to keep the place functioning efficiently & effectively. These guys turn up regularly, often more than once a week, to assist in cleaning aviaries, feeding round and lending a helping hand with some of the arduous building & repair jobs, so we'd like to give them a special mention in acknowledgement of their invaluable contribution to S.O.S (in no particular order!):

* Steve *
* Paul *
* Pete *
* Simon *
* Darren *
* Doug *
* Sarah *
* Lynn *
* Allen *


and our two current work-placement helpers from Otley College, the two Katherines & Catherine. Confused? We often are...:-)

We hope - indeed we know - our volunteers enjoy their time in the company of our magnificent birds, and although this is small reward for all the time they put in, we hope it continues to provide sufficient recompense for all their hard work. Thank you.

2010 Raptor Rehab Results

Although the Sanctuary's raptor hospital generally ticks along quietly behind the scenes, it's an aspect of our operations which has a hugely important role to play and, as always, was kept busy throughout last year.

However we're particularly pleased about the recovery of the birds brought into us last year, of which we were able to release a higher than normal rate successfully back to the wild - all told, during 2010 our falconers attended to 77 sick or injured wild birds of prey brought into to the Sanctuary, of which 48% were re-released. 

This undernourished Kestrel was collected from a local farm a few days into last December's cold snap, when it had been unable to find food because of the deep snow cover.

This undernourished Kestrel was collected from a local farm a few days into last December's cold snap, when it had been unable to find food because of the deep snow cover.

The biggest cause of wild raptor injury by far - certainly in this area - stems from Road Traffic Accidents and over half of those brought to the Sanctuary year were victims of these RTA’s.

Many of the other birds brought to the Centre have been found in gardens or fields, either suffering from starvation or quite often - especially in the case of Sparrowhawks - having been stunned by flying into a window. Among the other hazards out there awaiting the unsuspecting raptor are getting caught in netting or barbed wire, all sorts of other perilous obstacles such as trains, chimneys & electric pylons - and on one memorable occasion, Sellotape!

This bedraggled Tawny Owl had fallen down a disused chimney - hence the wretched, muddy appearance - and was given a very careful wash-and-brush-up to remove the grime from its plumage

This bedraggled Tawny Owl had fallen down a disused chimney - hence the wretched, muddy appearance - and was given a very careful wash-and-brush-up to remove the grime from its plumage

The majority of birds brought into the hospital last year were Tawny Owls and Little Owls, but the number of Barn Owls and Kestrels also exceeded double figures, in addition to nine Sparrowhawks and one Buzzard.

From the total number of raptors brought to the Sanctuary in 2010, the falconers were able to treat, rehabilitate and release nearly half of them, a fantastic result in this context. This is also an opportune moment for us to extend our thanks to the Stowe Veterinary Group, who have been brilliant once again with all the help and assistance they have given us throughout the last year in this and other regards.

Although not listed as injured in our Register, around May time we tend to have a higher proportion of nestlings or youngsters brought in, particularly if they have fallen out of the nest and are looking abandoned!  

An important stage of re-release for wild birds that have been in our care for a while is the 'hack-back' - a process whereby we continue to provide food for the released bird in a secure location, so that it can feed as it recovers its bearings and…

An important stage of re-release for wild birds that have been in our care for a while is the 'hack-back' - a process whereby we continue to provide food for the released bird in a secure location, so that it can feed as it recovers its bearings and natural hunting instincts in the wild

2010 Raptor Rehab Results

Although the Sanctuary's raptor hospital generally ticks along quietly behind the scenes, it's an aspect of our operations which has a hugely important role to play and, as always, was kept busy throughout last year.

However we're particularly pleased about the recovery of the birds brought into us last year, of which we were able to release a higher than normal rate successfully back to the wild - all told, during 2010 our falconers attended to 77 sick or injured wild birds of prey brought into to the Sanctuary, of which 48% were re-released.

This undernourished Kestrel was collected from a local farm a few days into last December's cold snap, when it had been unable to find food because of the deep snow cover.

This undernourished Kestrel was collected from a local farm a few days into last December's cold snap, when it had been unable to find food because of the deep snow cover.

The biggest cause of wild raptor injury by far - certainly in this area - stems from Road Traffic Accidents and over half of those brought to the Sanctuary year were victims of these RTA’s.

Many of the other birds brought to the Centre have been found in gardens or fields, either suffering from starvation or quite often - especially in the case of Sparrowhawks - having been stunned by flying into a window. Among the other hazards out there awaiting the unsuspecting raptor are getting caught in netting or barbed wire, all sorts of other perilous obstacles such as trains, chimneys & electric pylons - and on one memorable occasion, Sellotape!

This bedraggled Tawny Owl had fallen down a disused chimney - hence the wretched, muddy appearance - and was given a very careful wash-and-brush-up to remove the grime from its plumage

This bedraggled Tawny Owl had fallen down a disused chimney
- hence the wretched, muddy appearance - and was given a very
careful wash-and-brush-up to remove the grime from its plumage

The majority of birds brought into the hospital last year were Tawny Owls and Little Owls, but the number of Barn Owls and Kestrels also exceeded double figures, in addition to nine Sparrowhawks and one Buzzard.

From the total number of raptors brought to the Sanctuary in 2010, the falconers were able to treat, rehabilitate and release nearly half of them, a fantastic result in this context. This is also an opportune moment for us to extend our thanks to the Stowe Veterinary Group, who have been brilliant once again with all the help and assistance they have given us throughout the last year in this and other regards.

Although not listed as injured in our Register, around May time we tend to have a higher proportion of nestlings or youngsters brought in, particularly if they have fallen out of the nest and are looking abandoned!

An important stage of re-release for wild birds that have been in our care for a while is the 'hack-back' - a process whereby we continue to provide food for the released bird in a secure location, so that it can feed as it recovers its bearings and…

An important stage of re-release for wild birds that have been in our care for a while is the 'hack-back' - a process whereby we continue to provide food for the released bird in a secure location, so that it can feed as it recovers its bearings and natural hunting instincts in the wild

Ferrets and Spooks

After the hustle and bustle of the summer season, the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary settles down to a more peaceful phase. The flying display birds rest their wings for a few months, enjoying a period of well earned relaxation and the falconers don their jackets and gum boots against the wintry weather, tackling the many areas of the Sanctuary that need a little TLC after the busy summer.

One of the first jobs to be undertaken was the erection of a new ferret hut.  The old one was not only looking a little worn but, given that we’re hoping to expand the colony, it seemed a good time to give them a more palatial setting. 

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Ferrets are supreme escape artists, so lots of thought was put in to exactly what materials would be needed to keep them safe and secure.  They also love to play, so the new hut comes complete with large playball with exciting holes to explore, drainpipes to run in and out of and a long flexipipe to chase each other through.  And, (something I learnt only just recently) you’ll never guess what ferrets like above all else for those snoozy moments – a hammock!  Lucky ferrets - I’m thinking about moving in myself!

Fundraising Hallowe’en Hoot at the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary

Spooky Tooth & Magic Merlin - two of the guests at our Hallow'een Fundraiser

Spooky Tooth & Magic Merlin - two of the guests at our Hallow'een Fundraiser

Although it’s a much quieter time visitor wise, there are one or two highlights, when the Centre briefly springs to life once more in fundraising mode to sustain us through the winter months – Hallowe’en being one of them.  This year, we thought we would go the whole hoot and make a real day of it.  All half term week we ran our tantalising pumpkin trail, with all sorts of hallowe’eny facts scattered around the Sanctuary and prizes for everyone who could answer all the quiz questions.

The 31st October itself dawned grey, but was dry and warm, ideal weather for a special Hallowe’en flying display.   As well as the pumpkin trail, the falconers had hidden bats and spiders all over the Sanctuary for the kids to hunt, with stacks of prizes to be won.  The flying display was, as always, a spectacular event, where Nessa the Red Kite, Becky the Lanner Falcon and Marge the Harris Hawk all showed off their aerial prowess.  A very special extra, was the novice display of one of the Sanctuary’s newest residents – Cecil the Spectacled Owl - there’ll be more about his first flight on our next blog.

As a finishing touch, after the flying display, General Manager Andy had the tricky task of judging the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary's fearsome fancy dress competition.  It was a tough call to choose between all the wizards, witches, skeletons and zombies and a rather appealing pumpkin, but finally the winners were selected and very scary they were too!  The following day, we received a super letter from one of the winners thanking us for his prize.  All in all an excellent day, thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Waifs and Strays

On our last blog, we wrote about the exciting events going on at the Sanctuary over the hallowe’en period. On Hallowe’en Sunday itself however, as well as the pumpkin trail and fancy dress, there was some additional tension behind the scenes, but not for such a good reason.

Paula, our American Kestrel, recently went walkabout - to the consternation of us, and twitchers nationwide!

Paula, our American Kestrel, recently went walkabout - to the consternation of us, and twitchers nationwide!

Back in mid-August, we told you about a very special little lady who came to reside at the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, our female American Kestrel Paula. As anyone who has seen an American Kestrel knows, they are really tiny, usually weighing in at around 3oz – as small, if not smaller than some of our native songbirds.

All our resident birds live in spacious aviaries, with plenty of foliage to roost and nest in. This can mean, though, that the birds aren’t always easy to spot and so it was that when one of our volunteers went to clean out Paula’s aviary, she slipped over his shoulder and out of the door before anyone could stop her.

Paula isn’t one of the flying display birds, otherwise it would have been much easier to tempt her back to the glove. As it was the falconers tracked her through our local village, trying desperately to entice her to come down, but General Manager Andy soon came to the conclusion that they were just in danger of driving her further away. With much reluctance, they decided to call it a day in the hope that she would find her way back when she was hungry.

A couple of days passed and there was no sign of her, but on Wednesday morning, the phone began to run red hot at the Sanctuary, with numerous sightings of an immature female Kestrel at Landguard Nature Reserve over on the East coast. The fact that the bird was wearing a yellow ring confirmed that this could well be Paula.

Conservation Officer Dean was very quickly on the phone to one of the bird ringers at the reserve getting directions and made his way to Languard with all haste. A number of twitchers had spotted the Kestrel by this time, which thankfully made it easy for Dean to locate her once he arrived at the reserve. She was obviously quite hungry, as she showed considerable interest in the food he offered her from the glove, but she was still intent on being coy. However, as luck would have it, there were some strategically placed mist nets on the reserve, which are used for safely catching birds so that they can be ringed and, specifically at this time of year, for checking on migratory wading birds. Paula flew off straight into one of these and was soon back in Deans’ safe hands once more.

Paula's mate, Fred, appeared pretty concerned and kept a watching brief for the return of is partner

Paula's mate, Fred, appeared pretty concerned and kept a watching brief for the return of is partner

With Paula safely tucked up in her travel box, Dean returned to the Sanctuary, where Paula was given a thorough health check to make sure she hadn’t sustained any injury throughout her adventure. Her lovesick boyfriend Fred had been calling for Paula since her escape, so he was very happy when at last they were reunited in their aviary once more.

Although only the tiniest of birds, Paula nevertheless made a pretty big splash in the national Press with her story - for more click here to see how The Daily Telegraph reported it.

One Short-Eared Owl - Far From Home!

Betwixt & between, this Short Eared Owl pitched up on an oil rig in the middle of the North Sea

Betwixt & between, this Short Eared Owl pitched up on an oil rig in the middle of the North Sea

A couple of days later, we received an interesting e-mail from Stewart Green who works on a ConocoPhillips Oil Rig way out in the North Sea, about 50 miles east of Scarborough. He attached a photo of an Owl that had landed on the rig earlier in the day and the question was, what sort of Owl was it? We were able to verify that it was a Short Eared Owl, a long, long way from it's natural habitat of marshlands and moorlands, where - unusually for an owl - it is a ground-dweller.

We have heard nothing since but hoped that it managed to return to terra firma in the UK or somewhere in Europe without too much hassle - whereever it set foot again, no doubt it was one tired owl by then! For more on the Short Eared Owl, click here.

Helping Hands

Throughout the year, we receive calls and emails asking for help or information on a variety of natural history subjects, ranging from what to do with an injured owl to whether we can help with underweight hedgehogs.  

Hedgehogs of course aren’t really our field, but we ‘know a man who can’ and very good at it he is too – but that’s another story. We even had a call from a gentleman the other day who had bought a parrot and, at 70 years old, was finding it rather a strain every time the bird let out a random, raucous squawk.  It just so happens that our Chief Fundraiser Maz has connections in that line, so she was able to offer assistance.  Whatever the problem, we will try to help wherever we can.

Of course, our general manager Andy is a bit of a dab hand when it comes to bird of prey species, so he is usually the first port of call when we receive enquiries asking us to identify the subject of the photos we receive by email.  This week the task in hand was a bird photographed on the South Kent coast and it didn't take Andy long to pronounce that the bird in question was an immature Peregrine Falcon; obviously its youth had caused the uncertainty in identification.

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This immature Peregrine Falcon was spotted on the Kent coast this week

This immature Peregrine Falcon was spotted on the Kent coast this week

We also received an email from slightly further afield - Rangoon in Burma - where Matthew had found a Spotted Owlet in his garden.  When he found it, it was on the ground being mobbed by crows and the overwhelmed bird seemed unphased when Matthew approached it. Concerned, Matthew picked the owl up and put it in a large box in his shed. Apparently there had been a big storm the previous night, which may have had something to do with the owl’s rather dazed condition.  Matthew was pretty certain the owl was uninjured and wanted some advice as to what he should do next - the only place within reach for him was a zoo, which he thought might be inappropriate.

A Spotted Owl like this one was found dazed & confused in a Burmese garden...Photo: G.M. Garg

A Spotted Owl like this one was found dazed & confused in a Burmese garden...Photo: G.M. Garg

Andy's advice to Matthew was first to look for any signs of obvious injury and, if there are none, to keep the bird quiet in its box for a couple of days.  It may well just need a period of recuperation if it was battered about a bit in the storm.  Feed it some raw meat and see how it seems in a couple of days.  If the bird appears to be OK, the best thing would then be to release it as close to where you found it as possible.
 
However, if there are concerns that the owl is injured and have no local vet to take it to, it would be advisable to take it to the zoo. as they will certainly have a vet who can assess its injuries and take the appropriate action.  Although the situation may be different depending on your global location, in England vets have a duty of care to look after wild animals without charge.  

Getting back to Burma, Matthew emailed us shortly after with some good news: "Many thanks for this information, Ashley. I’m happy to say the bird has upped and flown. It was perched on a window ledge in the shed when I arrived back home today; I opened the door and it flew strongly up into nearby trees. Simply dazed after the storm I think, as you mention, so good news all round!"

We all love a happy ending, so it was nice to know the outcome of this story!

For Justin

Adopting an owl is one way in which our loyal supporters provide the Sanctuary with much needed assistance to help carry on the conservation, rehabilitation and education work that we do here, and maintain the bird hospital and many aviaries which house both our resident birds and those who recuperate here before being returned to the wild. People adopt a bird of prey for a wide variety of reasons and can come to see their chosen adoptee here at the Sanctuary throughout the year.

Recently we received an email from a couple that live in the Isle of Wight and were planning a visit to Suffolk.  They adopted Cobweb the Barn Owl in November 2009 and wondered if it would be possible to pop in to see him.  Adopting Cobweb is especially poignant for them, as they have done so in memory of their son Justin, who bred Barn Owls in Northumberland and, sadly, died of cystic fibrosis in 2006.  Unperturbed by the bitter northerly wind that was whipping around the Centre this week, Alison & John duly arrived to see how Cobweb is getting on and to take a look at the other resident raptors we have  here at the Sanctuary.

At this time of year most of our owls, including Cobweb, are safely tucked up in their aviaries, having a well earned rest if they are members of the flying display team, or getting ready for a much needed winter moult.  We do, however, still have Cecil our young Spectacled Owl in a weathering, getting used to his equipment and to the interested attention of our visitors, so we thought it would be a nice memento for our visitors to have a picture taken with him on the fist. 

Alison meets Cecil…

Alison meets Cecil…

... who as you can see, has developed somewhat since he came to us just a few weeks ago

... who as you can see, has developed somewhat since he came to us just a few weeks ago

Cecil was born in May of this year and has been hand reared here at the Sanctuary, so consequently he’s a very friendly chap, well used to being handled.  He is, of course, a typically inquisitive youngster, wanting to have a good gawp at everything going on around him, but he did manage to stay still just long enough to show off just how stunningly photogenic he is!

We do hope Justin’s parents enjoyed visiting Cobweb and were suitably enchanted by Cecil’s boyish charms and we would like to take this opportunity to thank them and all our dedicated followers for their continued and much appreciated support.

Andy dons his tutor hat

You might be forgiven for thinking that looking after a few birds of prey would be quite a simple job.  After all, even in the wild raptors spend most of their time sitting around contemplating not very much at all.  But of course here at the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary we have well over 80 birds of prey, from all the five raptor groups and all have different requirements, depending on both their species and their temperament.

Then of course there’s the hospital, where the falconers see all kinds of ailments and injuries.  Knowing how to handle birds under a variety of circumstances can be crucial to their survival!

With this in mind, last week our General Manager Andy welcomed a group of student vet nurses and their tutor to the Sanctuary.  They came from a local veterinary surgery who support the Centre by looking after our resident birds and any injured birds that come in to the hospital.  The students came for the morning to learn about the care and general husbandry of birds of prey, which included aspects such as correct handling, how to hood a bird to keep it calm and how to hold a bird correctly for examination by a vet.

Andy illustrates the intricacies of crop tubing to our guest students

Andy illustrates the intricacies of crop tubing to our guest students

Andy showed the students the Sanctuary’s rehabilitation aviaries and explained about the housing of birds of prey under veterinary treatment. They also had a look at the raptor hospital, where birds are brought initially for examination by a falconer. The students were able to see the equipment necessary for treating injured birds and to learn about the preliminary care birds are given before any necessary trips to the vets. Andy explained about the way records are kept of each bird, which can help to provide an insight into local raptor population trends amongst other things. He also gave a demonstration of crop tubing (see our blog 23/02/09), describing the importance of executing this procedure correctly and clarifying the reasons for needing this treatment - for example, if a bird is extremely weak, it may not have enough energy to digest solid food, which can lead to a nasty and potentially fatal condition called ‘sour crop’.

Hopefully the students had a good and instructive morning – Andy was certainly very pleased with the "thank-you" chocs and a bag of goodies for the hospital that they dropped off later on in the day!


Raptor releases continue

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Andy releases one of the two tawnies, one of which pauses for a quick look round before departure

Andy releases one of the two tawnies, one of which
pauses for a quick look round before departure

We have had another two successful releases this week, which is really heart-warming to report.  This time it was a couple of Tawny Owls that thankfully didn’t need to be with us for too long.  They were both victims of RTA’s, one probably having been caught in the slip stream of a car and just requiring some rest and TLC and the other having a damaged eye.  Both recovered fully under the falconers’ watchful care and were released at the edge of a a nearby wooded area.

Buzzard Bliss

Back in February of this year, we wrote about a male Common Buzzard that was brought in to the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary hospital. It was found locally in the middle of a field and was clearly unable to fly. Veterinary investigations exposed old fractures of the ulna and radius bones in the left wing, which had healed but solidified in the process. For just over seven months, the Buzzard has been monitored and cared for by the falconers in one of the Sanctuary’s rehabilitation aviaries until, finally, on the fourth of this month Andy and Dean deemed it fit and ready to begin its journey back to the wild.

After a well-deserved moult and looking rather fine, the Buzzard was taken out by Andy and Dean for a flight test, to ensure that it was one hundred percent ready to fend and hunt for itself. The flight test was a success, so the Buzzard was boxed up and transported to a nearby country estate for release. Andy had previously contacted the owners of the estate to gain permission for the release, as the area offers the perfect habitat for this species: Common Buzzards like a varied environment, preferably with undulating countryside that provides natural updrafts and thermals for them to soar on. They also like woody areas, with mature trees to nest in and grassland where they can catch a good bounty of mammals and worms.

In the gathering gloom, the fully-recuperated buzzard was freed back to the wild on a local estate

In the gathering gloom, the fully-recuperated buzzard was freed back to the wild on a local estate

As Andy poised ready to record the moment, Dean let the buzzard go. It immediately flew to the top of a tree to gain its bearings, then turned and flew right over the top of the falconers to a mature pine, followed by a rowdy rabble of crows and jackdaws shouting abuse, not best pleased at having a bird of prey in their midst. The Buzzard spent a couple of minutes perched on the top of the pine and then majestically took off and disappeared out of sight over the valley.

…and more releases pending

As mentioned in last week’s blog, the hospital has been very busy recently. Over the last two weeks alone, we have seen the arrival of two Tawny Owls and two Kestrels, one male and one female – all victims of road traffic accidents! They have all been receiving lots of TLC in the hospital’s rehab aviaries and it’s very heartening to be able to report that, without exception, all are very close to being fit for release. We’ll keep you updated, so watch this space!

All in a Day’s work

Being a charity, we are always very grateful for the help we get from our loyal supporters. Whether it’s someone kindly leaving the Sanctuary a bequest or offering a helping hand with maintenance work, it all helps us to give our resident birds and our hospital patients the best possible care.

Amongst our regular supporters is Eastern Concrete, sponsors of S.O.S. for the last three years. They have donated a considerable amount of gravel and also footings for new aviaries, not to mention taking time out of their busy schedule to deliver the afore-mentioned.

On the 4th September, Eastern Concrete hosted the grand opening of their new local yard and, as a special thank you for all their support over the years we thought it would be a nice gesture to take a few of the birds of prey along for a couple of hours to help make the day an extra special one.

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Maz explains about the various birds we took along to the Eastern Concrete event, to a couple of the young visitors

Maz explains about the various birds we took along to the Eastern Concrete event, to a couple of the young visitors

After work, our fundraiser Maz and head falconer Matt set off with Comet the Peregrine Falcon, Pungu the Bateleur Eagle, Josh the Harris Hawk and Samba, Maz’s European Eagle Owl in tow. The birds were all impeccably behaved and proved to be a great attraction. As well as being a thank you to our hosts, the occasion also provided an opportunity for Maz and Matt to talk to other business people, further helping to raise awareness of the Sanctuary and the work that goes on here.

At the event, Maz met with a gentleman called Barry Fender, who is the General Manager of Bardon Concrete. He was extremely interested in the rehabilitation work that the hospital achieves and was keen to know what he could do to help. Our travel boxes have begun to look somewhat tired and worn of late, so he agreed to donate three boxes of varying sizes, so that the falconers can transport birds in comfort and safety to the vets and back.

The boxes arrived a couple of days ago and very smart they are too! So thank you Barry, we are really chuffed with them and they are certainly much lighter to carry than the old wooden ones!

Inside & out - these splendid new travel boxes will make for safe & secure travelling when our display birds go off-site

Inside & out - these splendid new travel boxes will make for safe & secure travelling when our display birds go off-site

Prevention rather than Cure

Meanwhile, back at base, our conservation officer Dean has been hard at work changing the astro-turf on the perches in some of the aviaries. Unfortunately, it needs replacing regularly, so the falconers were chuffed when the Sanctuary was an recent recipient of an anonymous donation of some astro-turf - a timely present! You might think that as long as birds have somewhere to perch, they would be quite happy. If only life were that simple: in captivity, different birds have to have different kinds of perches and the material the perch is made of can be important too. Lack of adequate perching can cause all kinds of problems, one of the grimmest of which is a condition called ‘bumblefoot’.

Dean spent a happy morning replacing astro-turf strips to the perches of thems that needs it.

Dean spent a happy morning replacing astro-turf strips to the perches of thems that needs it.

Bumblefoot is a serious lesion affecting either the ball of the foot or one or more of the toes and it can have potentially devastating consequences. It can be caused by pressure on the foot, rather like a bed sore, where the blood flow has been restricted leading to infection and swelling. In some birds it’s almost impossible to cure, with the bacteria in the tissue simply not responding to treatment, so it really is a case of prevention - in this case, sufficient astro-turf covered perches for those birds to which it is best suited - is better than cure!

Raptor Rewards

It’s so rewarding when a potential disaster story turns into a happy ending and this week has been a particularly satisfying one on the hospital front. 

Over the last couple of weeks, the falconers have been taking care of two little owls, which have now been successfully rehabilitated and were released this week.  We also a Kestrel come in to the hospital recently, which again was fit enough for release back to the environs from whence it came during the last few days.  

In addition, you may well remember our long running saga of the male Marsh Harrier, which began back in August of 2009.  The poor bird, despite the very best care and numerous trips to the vet, seemed to have one problem after another.  Well, you’ll be glad to learn that, finally, after a whole year of TLC, treatment and recuperation, the Marsh Harrier was finally released back into the wild last week at a suitably marsh-rich habitat offered by stretches of the mid-Essex coastline

A peaceful stretch of habitat just away from the Essex coastline should provide some happy hunting grounds for the fully recuperated Marsh Harrier similar to the one shown in the picture above.

A peaceful stretch of habitat just away from the Essex coastline should provide some happy hunting grounds for the fully recuperated Marsh Harrier similar to the one shown in the picture above.

And Positive Vibes

The hospital has actually been pretty busy over the last couple of weeks and on the first of this month a Barn Owl was admitted, which came to the Sanctuary from Woodbridge. A farmer had found the bird on the edge of one of his fields, surrounded by its own feathers.  After close inspection, there appeared to be no physical injuries, but the all pervading odour of fox suggested that this Barn Owl had been the victim of a predator attack. The likelihood is that a young fox, probably just playing with the bird, attacked it when it was disturbed by the farmer. This chap will now stay with us and hopefully make a full recovery so that it can be released at a later stage.

Both these birds were brought into us in a pretty dilapidated state but thankfully are now well on the way to full recovery

Both these birds were brought into us in a pretty dilapidated state but thankfully are now well on the way to full recovery

Another recent patient is a Tawny Owl that came to us in mid-August was sadly a victim of the all too familiar RTA!  It had a closed left eye, probably as a result of a bang on the head. A visit to the vets was required where eye-drops were prescribed: they seem to have done the trick as the eye is now open and working, so things are looking good.  The bird is currently in one of our rehab aviaries and we look forward to releasing it soon.

Wings 'n' Things

Falconry is an ancient pastime, which has been enjoyed by princes and knaves alike across the centuries.  Back in the 1400's, the type of bird you were allowed to fly was dependent on your station in life.  If you were fortunate enough to be a king, for example, your bird of choice would undoubtedly be an eagle or a vulture.  For a servant, however, the humble kestrel would have to suffice.

These days, thankfully, it’s more about making an informed choice as people remain interested in natural history, with many choosing to keep birds of prey for a variety of reasons.

This being the case at S.O.S. we strongly believe that a good understanding of handling raptors and knowing the requirements for their care is paramount before embarking on acquiring one, which is why we offer a range of courses for this very purpose.

It’s also very encouraging that so many youngsters are interested in falconry, so our junior half-day experiences and six-day courses (spread out a day a week for six weeks) are ideal for giving them a comprehensive start on the road to owning a bird of prey.

On our courses, youngsters receive a basic grounding in the care of raptors at home, emphasising aspects of general health care, weight management, feeding and cleaning that are a necessary part of keeping a captive bird of prey humanely and with consideration.  We aim to make our junior courses fun as well as informative, including lots of hands-on opportunities with some of the world’s most stunning birds of prey.

A typical day early on in a six-part course includes learning to hold a bird on the fist, hooding a model bird, feeding a bird on the fist and practicing how to tie the tricky falconer’s knot (the latter is fiddly enough when you’ve only got a perch on the other end of your leash – factor in a glove and a live bird and that’s when confusion really sets in!) As the course progresses, there are all sorts of other important & interesting things to learn about diets, feeding, husbandry - for example, ‘imping’, a process whereby a moulted feather can be re-attached in place of a broken one, plus other essentials like what should be the contents of a raptor first aid box. As the course draws to a close, young participants are given the opportunity to experience at first hand the thrill of having hawks and owls flying free to and from the fist.

Details of our junior and adult courses can be obtained here on our website or you can call us and one of our team will be happy to give you more information.

Red Kite Rapture

The breeding season is always an exciting time for us here at the Sanctuary and 2010 has proved to be a very successful year. You might think that once you’ve seen a few fluffy chicks the novelty would wear off, but each new little life brings its own sense of awe and wonder each time. And this year has been even more special than usual due to the unexpected arrival of two raptor species that we have never bred here before.

Our two exciting ‘firsts’ this year were our Tawny Owl and Red Kite chicks. Tawny Owls of course are now doing much better in their natural environment, thanks to various conservation and nest-box schemes, including our own. Being night hunters, however, they are not always easy to spot in the wild, so our resident Tawnies do provide a rare opportunity for visitors to see this elusive bird up close and to learn about their lives, habits and requirements in the wild.

The handsome profile of Elfin, father of our two new Red Kite chicks

The handsome profile of Elfin, father of our two new Red Kite chicks

Our two Red Kite youngsters were hatched in May and - having since been carefully hand reared by general manager Andy Hulme & the falconry team to give them the very best start in life - are now in full plumage and beginning to participate in flying demonstrations.

The father, Elfin originally came to the Sanctuary ten years ago. The mother - a wild, disabled bird - was sent to the Sanctuary in 2008 having been found with a broken wing under a power line. The falconer she came from wanted her to have the company of a male, in the hope that they may breed. Having been given special sanction for this by the licensing authority, DEFRA, the result is very pleasing!

Soon you will be able to observe these magnificent raptors in flight over Stonham

Soon you will be able to observe these magnificent raptors in flight over Stonham

The arrival of these two new chicks is especially exciting since, although the species is doing well in the wild in areas such as the Cotswolds, Yorkshire, Scotland and of course Wales, it is still rare in this area. If the Sanctuary is able to successfully develop a breeding core at Stonham and with the correct permissions & conditions to effect a release programme, it may not be too long before the distinctive fork-tailed silhouette of the Red Kite is seen flying free in the skies of East Anglia, too.

Meanwhile the two new arrivals, named Nessa & Bryn, are a fantastic addition to the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary raptor family and will afford the Centre a tremendous opportunity to help educate visitors about the revival of this once near-extinct species. They will also provide a wonderful addition to the Sanctuary’s Education team, offering a great chance for kids to see this magnificent bird up close and to learn about the importance of its conservation.

Rumbustuous Reds

A couple of weeks ago, we reported on a rather special and unexpected surprise, when our female squirrel gave birth to four rusty coloured little bundles. The youngsters have since been doing really well, and in the last few days have left the comfort of their mother’s drey to explore their new home. They have been seen playing tag, climbing the fir trees and generally having a wonderful time.

A pause for breath...

A pause for breath...

Now you see me....

Now you see me....

... and off we go again!

... and off we go again!

Trying to record their exploits, as they flit frenziedly from place to place, has proved no simple feat, but Head Falconer Matt has demonstrated endless patience in his quest to document these most beguiling of creatures.

To go or not to go… that is the question for one recovered Kestrel!

Successful rehabilitation stories are the ones we like best here at the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary and we are chuffed to announce the release of a young female kestrel, which came to us at the Sanctuary in June this year. She was found locally after her nest had been destroyed by crows.

Unfortunately, the nest was then abandoned by the parents and the poor chick was on the ground, still being harassed by the crows when she was discovered. Luckily, apart from being too young to fend for herself, the Kestrel had suffered no physical injuries and so it was just a question of monitoring her, feeding her and giving her a safe, calm environment to grow up in.

In the meantime Andy set to, to make a hack box in preparation for the time when the Kestrel could be released.

Local farmer Bob Kruz does the honours once again as he helps us with the release of injured birds back to the wild

Local farmer Bob Kruz does the honours once again as he helps us with the release of injured birds back to the wild

She was placed in the hack box ten days previous to being released and, once she had settled down in her environment, local landowner Bob Kruz was on hand to open the meshed front of the box, so that the young bird could fly free.

For several years Bob has allowed us to release a number of birds of prey and owls from his land, so we thought it would be a nice gesture to ask Bob to let the Kestrel go. Surprisingly, she had other thoughts and was quite happy to sit there in her box for a while, surveying the world beyond. When we checked later that afternoon, however, she had gone.

What a Beauty!

The more different species of birds of prey we are able to show our visitors, the more we are able to enthuse people about their incredible beauty and explain about the importance of raptor conservation. Until now, we have never had a Spectacled Owl at the Sanctuary, but this week saw the arrival of a new chap (or chapess, it’s difficult to tell at this stage) at the tender age of three weeks old.

At just three weeks old, this young Spectacled Owl is an impressive bundle of fluff!

At just three weeks old, this young Spectacled Owl is an impressive bundle of fluff!

This particular bird will be one of an intended pair, but as captive-bred Spectacled Owl chicks are few and far between and progeny this year are thin on the ground, we will have to wait until next year before we can team our new resident with a mate.

It has to be said that we are extremely lucky to acquire such a beautiful and relatively rare species, but both the examples come to us as the direct result of a donation of the son of a past supporter, who wanted us to establish a poignant tribute to his late mother with us. For this we are very grateful.

The Spectacled Owlis a resident breeder from southern Mexico and Trinidad, southern Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina. They generally grow to around 46 cm long, weigh about 850 g and are fully grown at 8-9 weeks. They are a nocturnal species, inhabiting mature forests. They have bright yellow eyes, attractive brown upperparts, white facial markings and buff underparts. Spectacled Owls will prey on mammals, even the much larger three-toed sloth, large insects and birds, including smaller owls. For more information on this beautiful species, please click here

A Mir Trifle

Visitors to the Sanctuary often ask why some of the birds sometimes have hoods on. Well, if you’ve ever heard the phrase ‘out of sight, out of mind’, this is where it stems from - when a raptor has a hood on, what it can’t see doesn’t worry it, so hooding a bird to keep it quiet, relaxed and can easily calm any potentially stressful situation.

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Different birds have different head sizes of course and it’s important to have a hood that fits correctly, otherwise it can be easily shaken off. Recently, Head Falconer Matt had to measure Mir, our Steppe Eagle for a new hood. A mere trifle you might think, but not when your measuring tool looks like it might be a tempting snack. Luckily, Mir has bonded very closely with Matt – in fact he’s her favourite human in the whole world, so after a token flap of disapproval, she soon settled down and allowed him to do the necessary. A new hood should be winging its way to you shortly, Mir…

A Phabulous Photo Day

All year round, we have a number of people who like to come and take photos of our stunning raptors here at the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary. For some, it might mean taking a few snaps on their mobile phones, but for others the Sanctuary presents an opportunity to photographically record all aspects of birds of prey, from a Common Buzzard perching serenely on a fence to the spectacular flight of a Red Kite.

Up Close & Personal - the photo days allow great opportunities to grab some unfettered photos of some of the birds

Up Close & Personal - the photo days allow great opportunities to grab some unfettered photos of some of the birds

During the summer months our friends Paul & Brian host these extremely popular wildlife photo days. During these events, they are on hand to offer practical hints and tips on how to get the best from a digital camera as well as the benefits of their in-depth experience in exposure, framing and digital manipulation to enhance each shot.

The results can be stunning, as in one of these photos by partcipant Sandie Jardine

The results can be stunning, as in one of these photos by partcipant Sandie Jardine

Last week five budding David Baileys joined Brian to brave our typical English summer weather for the chance to capture that perfect wildlife shot. Despite some heavy rain showers in the morning, no-one’s spirits were dampened and one of our guests was not even perturbed by the longest of wet grass in his attempts to get up close and personal with the birds!

Sandie also captured the majesty of a Red Kit in full flight

Sandie also captured the majesty of a Red Kit in full flight

S.O.S Office Administrator Jennie went out to do her own bit of ‘snapping’ to capture the scene and one of our participants, Sandie, kindly sent us some of the fantastic images captured during the day.

Paul Sawer will be back on the August 15th & September 12th to host the two remaining SOS Photo Days this year - they are pretty booked up but if you would like to participate, please see our events page by clicking here, or telephone / e-mail us for more details or to make a booking.