Owl Together Now

The services of the S.O.S. Raptor Hospital are constantly in demand and although its busiest season (with baby casualties & orhans) is late spring, cases continue to stream in through every season of the year.

In the middle of July, a call for help was received from the owner of a Suffolk farm which had suffered tree damage over the course of one particularly windy night.

One of the large trees which fell in the storm contained an owl nest box - home to a young barn owl family. Two young barn owlets were still within the box when it fell and appeared to have been abandoned by the frightened adults.

The youngsters were transported to the Raptor Hospital at the owl sanctuary and, after close examination, were found to be suffering from cold, wet and, understandably, shock! After a couple of days of warmth, rest and nourishment, the youngsters were transferred to a hack box in a peaceful location on the edge of a meadow on a local farm. Here they would be able to build their strength and confidence in preparation for striking out into the habitat independently.

A week later, the S.O.S. Raptor Hospital received a call for assistance from a Norfolk farmer. A river ran through his arable farm and one morning he noticed a young barn owl perched on the bridge spanning the waterway. As he passed by the same spot each day, the farmer kept a weather eye on the owlet to ascertain whether it was fit and well and part of a family group.

Them Norfolk folk always have to show off! One of the youngsters stretching it's wings in the hack box.

The young owl remained on the bridge, seemingly alone and by the fourth day of observation, the farmer concluded that it probably needed help. He managed to catch up the bird without a fuss - a sure sign that things were not as they should be - and brought it into the Raptor Hospital for assessment. The owlet appeared to be uninjured, but weak and hungry, so plenty of rest, quiet, food and TLC was prescribed.

After 3 days of close observation in the hospital, this youngster was also deemed well enough to be prepared for release.

The two Suffolk barn owls were still enjoying the protection of their hack box and it was thought that they may appreciate some company, so the Norfolk owl was introduced to them and invited to share their accommodation. Luckily, local derby behaviour did not ensue and the owls all settled down comfortably together until their final release in mid August.

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Owl Together Now

The services of the S.O.S. Raptor Hospital are constantly in demand and although its busiest season (with baby casualties & orhans) is late spring, cases continue to stream in through every season of the year.

In the middle of July, a call for help was received from the owner of a Suffolk farm which had suffered tree damage over the course of one particularly windy night.

One of the large trees which fell in the storm contained an owl nest box - home to a young barn owl family. Two young barn owlets were still within the box when it fell and appeared to have been abandoned by the frightened adults.

The youngsters were transported to the Raptor Hospital at the owl sanctuary and, after close examination, were found to be suffering from cold, wet and, understandably, shock! After a couple of days of warmth, rest and nourishment, the youngsters were transferred to a hack box in a peaceful location on the edge of a meadow on a local farm. Here they would be able to build their strength and confidence in preparation for striking out into the habitat independently.

A week later, the S.O.S. Raptor Hospital received a call for assistance from a Norfolk farmer. A river ran through his arable farm and one morning he noticed a young barn owl perched on the bridge spanning the waterway. As he passed by the same spot each day, the farmer kept a weather eye on the owlet to ascertain whether it was fit and well and part of a family group.

Them Norfolk folk always have to show off! 
One of the youngsters stretching it's wings in the hack box.

The young owl remained on the bridge, seemingly alone and by the fourth day of observation, the farmer concluded that it probably needed help. He managed to catch up the bird without a fuss - a sure sign that things were not as they should be - and brought it into the Raptor Hospital for assessment. The owlet appeared to be uninjured, but weak and hungry, so plenty of rest, quiet, food and TLC was prescribed.

After 3 days of close observation in the hospital, this youngster was also deemed well enough to be prepared for release.

The two Suffolk barn owls were still enjoying the protection of their hack box and it was thought that they may appreciate some company, so the Norfolk owl was introduced to them and invited to share their accommodation. Luckily, local derby behaviour did not ensue and the owls all settled down comfortably together until their final release in mid August.

First-Time Visitor

Suffolk??? … Never heard of the place!

Earlier this month we received a casualty into our Raptor Hospital the likes of which it had never seen before!

A call was made to us early in the day to say that an unidentified bird of prey had been found by a lady walking on a nearby airfield. The bird did not have obvious injuries (such as a wing hanging down or difficulty walking) but its tolerance of humans in close proximity suggested that it was in need of assistance, so the rescuer was able to gather the bird up and visit her local vet.

The vet ascertained that there were no physical injuries but that the bird was suffering from starvation and that, in the right hands, the bird would stand a very good chance of complete recovery. After crop tubing the casualty to kick start the digestive system, the vet transferred the mystery bird to our specialist facilities for intensive care.

On admitting the patient to our hospital, General Manager Andy was stunned to find that the bird was a Rough Legged Buzzard - the first of its kind to come into our care. A migratory bird, only a handful come to the U.K. from Scandinavia every autumn, mainly to locations on the east coast.

Occasional large influxes of the species do appear, usually as a result of a particularly good breeding season which then causes pressure on food sources in the homeland. The birds will then migrate to coastal marshes and farmland along the coasts of Yorkshire, Northumberland and Norfolk. The Rough Legged Buzzard is lighter in colour than the familiar Common Buzzard with longer wings and a paler head. It is prone to hover over its prey than the latter and also has heavily feathered legs, hence its name.

Now settled into the  Raptor Hospital, the patient is being fed little and often in order to build up its weight. If progress is satisfactory, the bird will then be moved out to a quiet, secluded rehabilitation aviary for a week to ten days. Strength and confidence allowing, the buzzard will then be released as close as possible to where it was found - not only will this site provide the best habitat for its continued health, but it may well have a lonely mate within the vicinity. 

After spending time with us, we look forward to releasing this handsome rare visitor back to the coastal wetlands

First-Time Visitor

Earlier this month we received a casualty into our Raptor Hospital the likes of which it had never seen before!

A call was made to us early in the day to say that an unidentified bird of prey had been found by a lady walking on a nearby airfield. The bird did not have obvious injuries (such as a wing hanging down or difficulty walking) but its tolerance of humans in close proximity suggested that it was in need of assistance, so the rescuer was able to gather the bird up and visit her local vet.

Suffolk??? … Never heard of the place!

The vet ascertained that there were no physical injuries but that the bird was suffering from starvation and that, in the right hands, the bird would stand a very good chance of complete recovery. After crop tubing the casualty to kick start the digestive system, the vet transferred the mystery bird to our specialist facilities for intensive care.

On admitting the patient to our hospital, General Manager Andy was stunned to find that the bird was a Rough Legged Buzzard - the first of its kind to come into our care. A migratory bird, only a handful come to the U.K. from Scandinavia every autumn, mainly to locations on the east coast.

Occasional large influxes of the species do appear, usually as a result of a particularly good breeding season which then causes pressure on food sources in the homeland. The birds will then migrate to coastal marshes and farmland along the coasts of Yorkshire, Northumberland and Norfolk. The Rough Legged Buzzard is lighter in colour than the familiar Common Buzzard with longer wings and a paler head. It is prone to hover over its prey than the latter and also has heavily feathered legs, hence its name.

Now settled into the Raptor Hospital, the patient is being fed little and often in order to build up its weight. If progress is satisfactory, the bird will then be moved out to a quiet, secluded rehabilitation aviary for a week to ten days. Strength and confidence allowing, the buzzard will then be released as close as possible to where it was found - not only will this site provide the best habitat for its continued health, but it may well have a lonely mate within the vicinity. 

After spending time with us, we look forward to releasing this handsome rare visitor back to the coastal wetlands

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An Inspector Calls...

Twice a year, we are visited by local veterinary surgeon Paul Canham to undertake an inspection necessary for the granting of a Zoo Licence by Mid Suffolk District Council. Without the licence, the Sanctuary would not be able to function in its current form, as it could not display its wild animals to the visiting public.

There are criteria which must be met before a licence can be granted; the Sanctuary must

*help educate people about diversity
*offer suitable habitat for the types of animals kept
*have a high standard of animal care
*have measures in place to prevent animals escaping

The Vet Inspection provides feedback to the sanctuary and the council on standards of accommodation and care and supplies a valuable benchmark for the quality of facilities. There are three elements to the inspection; animals, aviaries and hospital.

The first category requires that  animal husbandry is of an excellent standard. The vet ascertains this by evaluating the health of all the owls and other birds of prey on site, plus the red squirrels. He must satisfy himself that they are physically fit and psychologically healthy - alert, contented, well fed, with well conditioned plumage and clean beaks and talons. They must have access to clean water and their living quarters must be clean and hygienic.

Lily the Little Owl recommends her accommodation to vet

Secondly, the vet assesses the standard of the birds’ and animals’ accommodation. The aviaries must be weatherproof and offer enough space for the birds to feel secure but not cramped. Nest boxes must be dry and solid and foliage within the aviaries non toxic. Although breeding aviaries cannot be disturbed, they still require clean water and the removal of organic debris after feeding.

The third element of the visit requires that the vet inspects the standard of the hospital facilities. He checks the drugs cupboard contents - that storage protocol is being followed and that no drugs are retained beyond their expiry date. Detailed records must also be kept of each hospital admission - the case, its treatment and outcome - and stored securely. The rehabilitation aviaries are also inspected to ensure that they offer appropriate clean, dry, quiet and spacious accommodation for recuperation.

Vet Paul Canham checks the hospital drugs cabinet with Manager Andy Hulm

After his visit, the vet wrote a report of his findings and submitted it to S.O.S. - a few minor tweaks were required and once completed, the findings formed the basis of a letter of satisfaction which he forwarded to the Environmental Officer of Mid Suffolk District Council for the subsequent successful retention of the Zoo Licence.

An Inspector Calls...

Twice a year, we are visited by local veterinary surgeon Paul Canham to undertake an inspection necessary for the granting of a Zoo Licence by Mid Suffolk District Council. Without the licence, the Sanctuary would not be able to function in its current form, as it could not display its wild animals to the visiting public.

There are criteria which must be met before a licence can be granted; the Sanctuary must

*help educate people about diversity
*offer suitable habitat for the types of animals kept
*have a high standard of animal care
*have measures in place to prevent animals escaping

The Vet Inspection provides feedback to the sanctuary and the council on standards of accommodation and care and supplies a valuable benchmark for the quality of facilities. There are three elements to the inspection; animals, aviaries and hospital.

The first category requires that  animal husbandry is of an excellent standard. The vet ascertains this by evaluating the health of all the owls and other birds of prey on site, plus the red squirrels. He must satisfy himself that they are physically fit and psychologically healthy - alert, contented, well fed, with well conditioned plumage and clean beaks and talons. They must have access to clean water and their living quarters must be clean and hygienic.

Lily the Little Owl recommends her accommodation to vet

Secondly, the vet assesses the standard of the birds’ and animals’ accommodation. The aviaries must be weatherproof and offer enough space for the birds to feel secure but not cramped. Nest boxes must be dry and solid and foliage within the aviaries non toxic. Although breeding aviaries cannot be disturbed, they still require clean water and the removal of organic debris after feeding.

The third element of the visit requires that the vet inspects the standard of the hospital facilities. He checks the drugs cupboard contents - that storage protocol is being followed and that no drugs are retained beyond their expiry date. Detailed records must also be kept of each hospital admission - the case, its treatment and outcome - and stored securely. The rehabilitation aviaries are also inspected to ensure that they offer appropriate clean, dry, quiet and spacious accommodation for recuperation.

Vet Paul Canham checks the hospital drugs cabinet with Manager Andy Hulme

After his visit, the vet wrote a report of his findings and submitted it to S.O.S. - a few minor tweaks were required and once completed, the findings formed the basis of a letter of satisfaction which he forwarded to the Environmental Officer of Mid Suffolk District Council for the subsequent successful retention of the Zoo Licence.

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Bursting at the Seams

 All quiet on Kestrel Ward at the Raptor Hospital

The first week of July has seen an unprecedented demand for the services of the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary’s Raptor Hospital.

Chief medic, Maz Robinson, declares that the hospital has never treated so many birds in such a short space of time and the facilities are now close to full capacity. Presently, the hospital patients include two baby barn owls, two baby kestrels, one baby tawny owl and one baby little owl.

This, of course, does not mean that only the hospital is full - this is just the first port of call for injured birds - but the rehabilitation aviaries and the birds’  final hacking out facilities are severely stretched too. The rehabilitation aviaries are accommodating two common buzzards, one barn owl and one baby tawny owl and at various locations in the area two baby tawny owls, one kestrel and one baby little owl are currently being hacked out.

The immaturity of the birds reflects the large numbers of vulnerable young which are struggling do deal with a whole host of potential risks at this time of year.

Many baby owls will “branch out” before having fully mastered the art of flying and will fall from trees where they are often found by walkers whose dogs have discovered the bedraggled youngsters. Others are found on or near roads where they have been struck by traffic.

The two Barn Owls currently hospitalised were brought to the sanctuary by the owner of a local equestrian centre. A keen conservationist herself, she had erected an owl nestbox box in a tree on her property.

A Barn Owl was successfully rearing young within when disaster struck. During a severe storm, the tree fell down with two babies in the nestbox and swift intervention was necessary in order to save the little birds. Having avoided serious injury, they are now eating well in the hospital and staff are working towards their eventual release back to the wild.

Storm damage Barn Owl orphans settle into the hospital.

The baby Little Owl shown below is currently a hospital patient was struck by a car after dark. The driver was aware that he had hit something on the road, but hoped that it had escaped serious injury, as he could see nothing in his rearview mirror. On his return home, however, he discovered a very windswept little owl stuck in the radiator grille on the front of the car!

He brought the baby bird to us immediately and, miraculously, it appeared to have no life threatening injury - but it did look understandably stunned!! After a period of quiet rest and a few morsels of food, this owl is also on the road to recovery and will soon progress to the rehabilitation aviaries.

As this blog is being written, an injured sparrowhawk is on its way to the hospital…….and so the valuable work continues through the busiest period in the hospital’s recent history.

The Sanctuary would like to thank all its supporters for their very generous continued donations without which it would be impossible for the hospital and rehabilitation aviaries to remain open to casualties.

Please don’t put me back on that radiator grille!!!

Bursting at the Seams

The first week of July has seen an unprecedented demand for the services of the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary’s Raptor Hospital.

Chief medic, Maz Robinson, declares that the hospital has never treated so many birds in such a short space of time and the facilities are now close to full capacity. Presently, the hospital patients include two baby barn owls, two baby kestrels, one baby tawny owl and one baby little owl.

This, of course, does not mean that only the hospital is full - this is just the first port of call for injured birds - but the rehabilitation aviaries and the birds’ final hacking out facilities are severely stretched too. The rehabilitation aviaries are accommodating two common buzzards, one barn owl and one baby tawny owl and at various locations in the area two baby tawny owls, one kestrel and one baby little owl are currently being hacked out.

The immaturity of the birds reflects the large numbers of vulnerable young which are struggling do deal with a whole host of potential risks at this time of year.

Many baby owls will “branch out” before having fully mastered the art of flying and will fall from trees where they are often found by walkers whose dogs have discovered the bedraggled youngsters. Others are found on or near roads where they have been struck by traffic.

The two Barn Owls currently hospitalised were brought to the sanctuary by the owner of a local equestrian centre. A keen conservationist herself, she had erected an owl nestbox box in a tree on her property.

A Barn Owl was successfully rearing young within when disaster struck. During a severe storm, the tree fell down with two babies in the nestbox and swift intervention was necessary in order to save the little birds. Having avoided serious injury, they are now eating well in the hospital and staff are working towards their eventual release back to the wild.

Storm damage Barn Owl orphans settle into the hospital.

The baby Little Owl shown below is currently a hospital patient was struck by a car after dark. The driver was aware that he had hit something on the road, but hoped that it had escaped serious injury, as he could see nothing in his rearview mirror. On his return home, however, he discovered a very windswept little owl stuck in the radiator grille on the front of the car!

He brought the baby bird to us immediately and, miraculously, it appeared to have no life threatening injury - but it did look understandably stunned!! After a period of quiet rest and a few morsels of food, this owl is also on the road to recovery and will soon progress to the rehabilitation aviaries.

Please don’t put me back on that radiator grille!!!

As this blog is being written, an injured sparrowhawk is on its way to the hospital…….and so the valuable work continues through the busiest period in the hospital’s recent history.

The Sanctuary would like to thank all its supporters for their very generous continued donations without which it would be impossible for the hospital and rehabilitation aviaries to remain open to casualties.

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Hacked Off (& Now We Are Five)

As you may recall, four young Little Owls were recently brought into the owl sanctuary’s raptor hospital by a member of the public. The owlets’ parents had been killed by a fox and the four babies left defenceless in their nest in an old tree stump. Having narrowly escaped the same fate as their parents, we undertook to look after them until old enough to be released back into the wild.

Through making contact with the Sanctuary regarding this incident, Heather - the owner of the land where the owls were found, became interested in becoming more involved with our rehabilitation work. To this end, she invited Centre Manager Andy Hulme to assess the habitat surrounding her home with a view to siting some hack boxes there.

A typical Hack Box - the mesh will be removed once the residents have grown accustomed to their surroundings

Hack boxes are wooden structures, not unlike owl nest boxes, but with the addition of a removable mesh extension, allowing the birds a vantage point from which to acclimatise to the natural environment.

The birds are initially fed in the hack box but once they grow stronger the mesh side is removed,allowing birds freedom of movement between the secure enclosed environment and the “big outside world”! The guardian of the box will continue to provide food for the birds, within the box, so that they have sustenance until confident enough to leave and live independently.

Hack Boxes are usually located away from prying eyes...

Andy found the habitat in this particular location to be ideal for supporting owls, as the entire grounds of the residence were given over to organic hayfields. Indeed, the land is so enriched and unspoilt that a huge diversity of wild flowers, including bee orchids, are flourishing there. Consequently, an abundance of food enjoyed by Tawny and Little Owls is readily available and both a young plantation and a mature wood provide a valuable variety of environment. The site is peaceful and  undisturbed and, helpfully, the owner keeps no dogs, cats or other intrusive domestic animals.

Two hack boxes have now been installed at the site - one Tawny box and one Little Owl box - and already they've been put to good use! The four Little Owls referred to above, plus one extra who was brought into the Sanctuary just the day before we planned to introduce the quartet to the hack box, were duly installed and were finally released this week. (We're pleased to say this included the tiny mite who had been clawed by the fox and looked a bit of a mess when we first caught sight of him.)

Now We Are Five - our four 'outfoxed' Little Owls plus an additional one prepare for the off!

Subsequently an orphaned young Tawny was brought into us and this too has been hacked back to the wild using the new site. 

S.O.S. is indebted to Heather (who now contributes to our Facebook page) and others like her who engage in this rehabilitation process in order to offer rescued birds the “second chance” that they so obviously deserve. Thank you!

Happy Ending - one of the young Little Owls peers back from within the neighbouring orchard

Hacked Off (& Now We Are Five)

As you may recall, four young Little Owls were recently brought into the owl sanctuary’s raptor hospital by a member of the public. The owlets’ parents had been killed by a fox and the four babies left defenceless in their nest in an old tree stump. Having narrowly escaped the same fate as their parents, we undertook to look after them until old enough to be released back into the wild. (see here for more).

Through making contact with the Sanctuary regarding this incident, Heather - the owner of the land where the owls were found, became interested in becoming more involved with our rehabilitation work. To this end, she invited Centre Manager Andy Hulme to assess the habitat surrounding her home with a view to siting some hack boxes there.

A typical Hack Box - the mesh will be removed once the residents have grown accustomed to their surroundings

Hack boxes are wooden structures, not unlike owl nest boxes, but with the addition of a removable mesh extension, allowing the birds a vantage point from which to acclimatise to the natural environment.

The birds are initially fed in the hack box but once they grow stronger the mesh side is removed,allowing birds freedom of movement between the secure enclosed environment and the “big outside world”! The guardian of the box will continue to provide food for the birds, within the box, so that they have sustenance until confident enough to leave and live independently.

Hack Boxes are usually located away from prying eyes…

Andy found the habitat in this particular location to be ideal for supporting owls, as the entire grounds of the residence were given over to organic hayfields. Indeed, the land is so enriched and unspoilt that a huge diversity of wild flowers, including bee orchids, are flourishing there. Consequently, an abundance of food enjoyed by Tawny and Little Owls is readily available and both a young plantation and a mature wood provide a valuable variety of environment. The site is peaceful and undisturbed and, helpfully, the owner keeps no dogs, cats or other intrusive domestic animals.

Two hack boxes have now been installed at the site - one Tawny box and one Little Owl box - and already they've been put to good use! The four Little Owls referred to above, plus one extra who was brought into the Sanctuary just the day before we planned to introduce the quartet to the hack box, were duly installed and were finally released this week. (We're pleased to say this included the tiny mite who had been clawed by the fox and looked a bit of a mess when we first caught sight of him.)

Now We Are Five - our four 'outfoxed' Little Owls plus an additional one prepare for the off!

Subsequently an orphaned young Tawny was brought into us and this too has been hacked back to the wild using the new site.

S.O.S. is indebted to Heather (who now contributes to our Facebook page) and others like her who engage in this rehabilitation process in order to offer rescued birds the “second chance” that they so obviously deserve. Thank you!

Happy Ending - one of the young Little Owls peers back from within the neighbouring orchard.

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An Herb..aceous Border.

Part of the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary’s focus over the next few months is to add extra interest to our facilities, specifically for visitors suffering sensory impairment. The latest innovation is the addition of a raised herb bed within the sensory garden. 

This has come to fruition (no pun intended) due to a generous donation from a local family in memory of a late relative who was particularly fond of owls.

The timber built, L- shaped  bed stands at a height suitable for access with a wheelchair, allowing close contact with the variety of herbs within. The planting has been designed for maximum enjoyment through the senses of smell, touch and taste and includes lemon thyme, sage, curry plant, mint, lemon balm, oregano, dill and coriander.

It is hoped that both wheelchair users and the able bodied, deaf and blind visitors will all gain pleasure from bruising the leaves to release the pungent smell of the herbs. Those who wish to will also be welcome to taste the leaves of the wonderful variety of plants available in the bed. Specimens have been selected for their variety of perfumes from the citrusy lemon of the thyme, through aromatic sage and fresh, clean mint to the spicy, heady scent of the curry plant.

The herb bed will provide yet another focal point in the sensory garden where visitors can take their time over a leisurely picnic at wheelchair accessible tables and enjoy the relaxing water feature, atmospheric wind chimes and tactile, sculptural seating area.

Sanctuary staff are extremely grateful for the generous remembrance donation which has made this new dimension to the S.O.S. Sensory Garden possible.

An Herb..aceous Border

Part of the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary’s focus over the next few months is to add extra interest to our facilities, specifically for visitors suffering sensory impairment. The latest innovation is the addition of a raised herb bed within the sensory garden.

This has come to fruition (no pun intended) due to a generous donation from a local family in memory of a late relative who was particularly fond of owls.

The timber built, L- shaped  bed stands at a height suitable for access with a wheelchair, allowing close contact with the variety of herbs within. The planting has been designed for maximum enjoyment through the senses of smell, touch and taste and includes lemon thyme, sage, curry plant, mint, lemon balm, oregano, dill and coriander.

It is hoped that both wheelchair users and the able bodied, deaf and blind visitors will all gain pleasure from bruising the leaves to release the pungent smell of the herbs. Those who wish to will also be welcome to taste the leaves of the wonderful variety of plants available in the bed. Specimens have been selected for their variety of perfumes from the citrusy lemon of the thyme, through aromatic sage and fresh, clean mint to the spicy, heady scent of the curry plant.

The herb bed will provide yet another focal point in the sensory garden where visitors can take their time over a leisurely picnic at wheelchair accessible tables and enjoy the relaxing water feature, atmospheric wind chimes and tactile, sculptural seating area.

Sanctuary staff are extremely grateful for the generous remembrance donation which has made this new dimension to the S.O.S. Sensory Garden possible.

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A Helping Hand

On occasion, it is necessary for falconers at the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary to step in and offer surreptitious assistance to some of our breeding birds. This was the case recently with two pairs of Harris Hawks.

In the first instance, female Buffy laid two eggs on the floor of the aviary that she shares with her partner Larch. As there was little chance of these eggs hatching successfully without the benefit of nesting material, the falconers needed to intervene. Whilst it was important to interfere with the eggs as little as possible, it was possible to create a manmade nest out of conifer branches in the same location that Buffy had chosen. The eggs were carefully replaced in the new nest and happily, Buffy returned to sit on them.

Buffy settles into her new conifer nest

In the mean time, Willow and Henry, two of our winter team of Harris Hawks, also built a nest and laid a clutch of four eggs. This is the first time that these young birds have produced eggs and sadly, due to their inexperience, they quickly broke two of them. So in order to protect the remaining two eggs, the falconers were forced to remove them from the nest and incubate them artificially. The eggs hatched successfully and after two or three days, they needed a surrogate mum!

The falconers knew just the bird to engage in rearing these chicks - Buffy’s track record in this department is excellent. She had also been sitting on her own eggs in the conifer nest for some time with no indication that they were fertile, so her two dubious eggs were consequently removed from the nest and replaced with Willow’s young chicks - a win win situation all round.

But the story had an even better ending - Willow and Henry since laid a second clutch and have been left to raise them without interference!

A Helping Hand

On occasion, it is necessary for falconers at the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary to step in and offer surreptitious assistance to some of our breeding birds. This was the case recently with two pairs of Harris Hawks.

In the first instance, female Buffy laid two eggs on the floor of the aviary that she shares with her partner Larch. As there was little chance of these eggs hatching successfully without the benefit of nesting material, the falconers needed to intervene. Whilst it was important to interfere with the eggs as little as possible, it was possible to create a manmade nest out of conifer branches in the same location that Buffy had chosen. The eggs were carefully replaced in the new nest and happily, Buffy returned to sit on them.

Buffy settles into her new conifer nest

In the mean time, Willow and Henry, two of our winter team of Harris Hawks, also built a nest and laid a clutch of four eggs. This is the first time that these young birds have produced eggs and sadly, due to their inexperience, they quickly broke two of them. So in order to protect the remaining two eggs, the falconers were forced to remove them from the nest and incubate them artificially. The eggs hatched successfully and after two or three days, they needed a surrogate mum!

The falconers knew just the bird to engage in rearing these chicks - Buffy’s track record in this department is excellent. She had also been sitting on her own eggs in the conifer nest for some time with no indication that they were fertile, so her two dubious eggs were consequently removed from the nest and replaced with Willow’s young chicks - a win win situation all round.

But the story had an even better ending - Willow and Henry since laid a second clutch and have been left to raise them without interference!

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Pipped at the Post

Did you take part in the recent Vote National Bird Campaign? 

Well, over 200,000 individuals did just that and after all their votes were counted it was announced that the humble Robin was the nation’s favourite bird. Pecking at his heels in second place however, was the noble Barn Owl; the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary’s particular favourite!

The campaign was launched last year by ornithologist David Lindo who realised that, unlike other countries such as India (Peacock), Germany (Golden Eagle) and Ecuador (Andean Condor) Britain did not possess a National Bird.

People were thus asked to cast a vote for their favourite British bird and opportunities to do so were available online, at ballot boxes in schools or by postal vote. A list of 60 birds emerged for consideration including mute swan, kingfisher, wren, red kite and blue tit. A preliminary vote shortlisted 10 possible candidates for the title, after which the final ballot was opened in March 2015. A separate vote exclusively for children was instrumental in securing the title for the Robin (11,000 children voted - 20% for the Robin)!

Lindo states that he will now speak to the government about the possibility of Britain officially adopting the Robin as its national bird.

Our particular nominee - now let’s see, it’s a...?

As far as the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary is concerned, the Barn Owl remains our preference for national icon status! This magnificent bird’s pale plumage and liquid black eyes make it one of Britain’s most hauntingly beautiful birds and its eerily silent flight gives it a truly ghostly presence when encountered at night. Its wide facial disc renders it instantly recognisable  and, as the national vote proves, it is beloved and revered not only by serious birdwatchers but also by “ordinary folks”.

Despite there being only one declared winner of the National Bird vote, David Lindo claims that the project is “..in fact a victory for all our British birds….the U.K.s biggest ever nature vote has reminded the British people how much they love the nature surrounding them.”

Pipped at the Post

Did you take part in the recent Vote National Bird Campaign? 

Well, over 200,000 individuals did just that and after all their votes were counted it was announced that the humble Robin was the nation’s favourite bird. Pecking at his heels in second place however, was the noble Barn Owl; the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary’s particular favourite!

The campaign was launched last year by ornithologist David Lindo who realised that, unlike other countries such as India (Peacock), Germany (Golden Eagle) and Ecuador (Andean Condor) Britain did not possess a National Bird.

People were thus asked to cast a vote for their favourite British bird and opportunities to do so were available online, at ballot boxes in schools or by postal vote. A list of 60 birds emerged for consideration including mute swan, kingfisher, wren, red kite and blue tit. A preliminary vote shortlisted 10 possible candidates for the title, after which the final ballot was opened in March 2015. A separate vote exclusively for children was instrumental in securing the title for the Robin (11,000 children voted - 20% for the Robin)!

Lindo states that he will now speak to the government about the possibility of Britain officially adopting the Robin as its national bird. 

Our particular nominee - now let’s see, it’s a...?

As far as the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary is concerned, the Barn Owl remains our preference for national icon status! This magnificent bird’s pale plumage and liquid black eyes make it one of Britain’s most hauntingly beautiful birds and its eerily silent flight gives it a truly ghostly presence when encountered at night. Its wide facial disc renders it instantly recognisable  and, as the national vote proves, it is beloved and revered not only by serious birdwatchers but also by “ordinary folks”.

Despite there being only one declared winner of the National Bird vote, David Lindo claims that the project is “..in fact a victory for all our British birds….the U.K.s biggest ever nature vote has reminded the British people how much they love the nature surrounding them.”

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S.O.S. meets Sir David Attenborough

This week we were invited to attend the official opening of Abberton Reservoir in Essex.

This  event marked the recent expansion of the capacity of the reservoir from 26 billion to 41billion litres of water in order to secure adequate water supplies for one and a half million Essex residents. This development has gone hand in hand with an environmental project ensuring that the reservoir retains and extends its valuable habitat for the whole spectrum of wildlife and water fowl in particular.

The new facility offers a great place to view the some 40,000
ducks, geese & swans that visit the reservoir every year

Naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough was in attendance to officially open the new facility with a celebration at the Visitor Centre run in partnership with the Essex Wildlife Trust and our falconer Dean Winham joined the activities with Keo the Lanner Falcon and Spirit the Barn Owl.
The birds were greatly admired by the assembled naturalists and conservationists and flew the flag for ecologically intelligent local development.

The reservoir is important to wildlife and wildfowl and holds some of the highest environmental designations including as a Sight of Significant Scientific Interest. Up to 40,000 ducks, swans and geese visit every year - the top six species being Wigeon, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Coot and Black Headed Gull.  The site is important for dabbling ducks such as Shoveler and Teal and an enhancement project has increased the amount of shallow water habitat crucial for these birds and waders which also frequent the site.

Throughout this project, started in 2010, the Essex Wildlife Trust has worked closely with Essex & Suffolk Water to ensure that essential habitats that support wildlife were fully understood before development work commenced. Contractors were then able to take responsibility for protecting the interests of all the species native to the site and for ensuring that final habitats increased in both size and quality.

The improved and expanded site is proof perfect that building projects necessary for supporting the ever expanding human population can be completed with environmental empathy and sensitivity. The reservoir is open to the public every day and offers incredible bird and butterfly watching opportunities as well as stunning views,walks and picnic spots. Find out more about Abberton Reservoir here

S.O.S. meets Sir David Attenborough

This week we were invited to attend the official opening of Abberton Reservoir in Essex.

This event marked the recent expansion of the capacity of the reservoir from 26 billion to 41billion litres of water in order to secure adequate water supplies for one and a half million Essex residents. This development has gone hand in hand with an environmental project ensuring that the reservoir retains and extends its valuable habitat for the whole spectrum of wildlife and water fowl in particular.

The new facility offers a great place to view the some 40,000 ducks, geese & swans that visit the reservoir every year

Naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough was in attendance to officially open the new facility with a celebration at the Visitor Centre run in partnership with the Essex Wildlife Trust and our falconer Dean Winham joined the activities with Keo the Lanner Falcon and Spirit the Barn Owl.
The birds were greatly admired by the assembled naturalists and conservationists and flew the flag for ecologically intelligent local development.

The reservoir is important to wildlife and wildfowl and holds some of the highest environmental designations including as a Sight of Significant Scientific Interest. Up to 40,000 ducks, swans and geese visit every year - the top six species being Wigeon, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Coot and Black Headed Gull. The site is important for dabbling ducks such as Shoveler and Teal and an enhancement project has increased the amount of shallow water habitat crucial for these birds and waders which also frequent the site.

Throughout this project, started in 2010, the Essex Wildlife Trust has worked closely with Essex & Suffolk Water to ensure that essential habitats that support wildlife were fully understood before development work commenced. Contractors were then able to take responsibility for protecting the interests of all the species native to the site and for ensuring that final habitats increased in both size and quality.

The improved and expanded site is proof perfect that building projects necessary for supporting the ever expanding human population can be completed with environmental empathy and sensitivity. The reservoir is open to the public every day and offers incredible bird and butterfly watching opportunities as well as stunning views,walks and picnic spots. Find out more about Abberton Reservoir here

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Outfoxed!

Last week, an emergency call was made to Suffolk Owl Sanctuary by a local resident because a fox was wreaking havoc in her garden!

The appearance of the fox in itself was not unusual, as the homeowner encouraged wildlife of all sorts into the natural environment that she had deliberately created on her land. What WAS unusual,however, was the distress the fox’s presence was causing other creatures in the garden - specifically, a family of Little Owls which had taken up residence in a hollow tree.

Two of the tiny Little Owlets

Little owls are by nature feisty creatures and will not shy away from an altercation with a predator but by the time the homeowner had responded to a commotion in the vicinity of the tree, the fox had already despatched the two adult owls who had been attempting to defend four youngsters they were raising. When our nature-lover found the four baby owlets exposed by the fox’s attempts to dig them out.

One of the youngsters is hand-fed by Maz as the others recuperate in the warmth of the incubator

Fearing that she might already be too late to save what was left of the owl family, she carefully removed the youngsters from danger and brought them in to the raptor hospital at the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary. After a thorough examination, all four owlets were found to be shocked but sound, with only one having sustained an injury to the back of the neck from the fox’s claws.

The quartet were settled into an intensive care incubator to warm up and recover from their ordeal and after some quiet recuperation time, their appetites were back with a vengeance! The quadruplets continued to thrive thanks to 2 hourly feeds and plenty of TLC from the falconry team and were soon out of intensive care.

At this point our colleague Maz stepped in and has taken the owlets home, where she was able to start giving them the continuous attention they will need until they have fledged properly and are ready for release - watch this space for further details.

The size of the diminutive little creatures is emphasised as they nestle in a small dish in preparation for being moved.  The one at the back was clawed by the fox, but we believe it stands a good chance of recuperating if cared for.

Outfoxed!

Last week, an emergency call was made to Suffolk Owl Sanctuary by a local resident because a fox was wreaking havoc in her garden!

The appearance of the fox in itself was not unusual, as the homeowner encouraged wildlife of all sorts into the natural environment that she had deliberately created on her land. What WAS unusual,however, was the distress the fox’s presence was causing other creatures in the garden - specifically, a family of Little Owls which had taken up residence in a hollow tree.

Two of the tiny Little Owlets

Little owls are by nature feisty creatures and will not shy away from an altercation with a predator but by the time the homeowner had responded to a commotion in the vicinity of the tree, the fox had already despatched the two adult owls who had been attempting to defend four youngsters they were raising. When our nature-lover found the four baby owlets exposed by the fox’s attempts to dig them out.

Fearing that she might already be too late to save what was left of the owl family, she carefully removed the youngsters from danger and brought them in to the raptor hospital at the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary. After a thorough examination, all four owlets were found to be shocked but sound, with only one having sustained an injury to the back of the neck from the fox’s claws.

The quartet were settled into an intensive care incubator to warm up and recover from their ordeal and after some quiet recuperation time, their appetites were back with a vengeance! The quadruplets continued to thrive thanks to 2 hourly feeds and plenty of TLC from the falconry team and were soon out of intensive care. 

One of the youngsters is hand-fed by Maz
as the others recuperate in the warmth of the incubator

At this point our colleague Maz stepped in and has taken the owlets home, where she was able to start giving them the continuous attention they will need until they have fledged properly and are ready for release - watch this space for further details.

The size of the diminutive little creatures is emphasised as they
nestle in a small dish in preparation for being moved. The one at the back was clawed by the fox, but we believe it stands a good chance of recuperating if cared for.

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