Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge Awarded

We are pleased to announce that we have been awarded the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge Certificate. This recognises our commitment to providing innovative and inspirational learning experiences outside of the classroom environment safely.

The LOtC Quality Badge is the only nationally recognised accreditation scheme for outdoor learning providers. The Department for Education guidance on Health and Safety on educational visits recommends that schools look for Quality Badge holders when choosing external providers for educational visits.

Here at Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, we have created a number of free to download resources for schools and educational groups to use, either in the classroom before or after their visit, or while they are enjoying a day out with us.

For groups visiting us at Stonham Barns, we can provide a tailor made itinerary on a range of themes or topics relating to our work, including food chains, habitats, adaptations and conservation, to name just a few. These topics can be delivered as guided walks, talks, sessions and workshops and may include presentations, games, crafts or practical elements depending on the age and ability of the group.

We are also able to deliver educational sessions as part of our outreach offer, where we attend your school or group. And launched in response to the pandemic, our virtual sessions continue to inspire people who live too far away to visit us, or us them.

For more information about our Educational offering, please visit:
https://www.owl-help.org.uk/education-department

All of our activities are risk assessed and are delivered by our qualified and experienced staff.

National Volunteers Week 2021

National Volunteers Week takes place every year between the 1st and 7th June. It’s an opportunity for us to highlight the amazing work that our volunteers do, and to say a massive THANK YOU to each and every one of them.

We asked our volunteers to share their thoughts and stories… here’s what some of them said:

“After working on farms for 50 years, and having owls on two of them, volunteering seemed to be a good step forward to still be involved in their care and well being. I feel privileged to have a chance to help like minded people look after birds and animals, and sharing their passion for the welfare of all. The staff and fellow volunteers are a great bunch of people to work with, sharing their knowledge, and love for the Sanctuary. Monday’s are a day I love, as I have been volunteering for 5 years at SOS, hopefully many more to come.” Linda

”I started volunteering last summer after being made redundant from my full time job, due to COVID. I wanted to spend some time helping an organisation that is close to my heart as I love being with animals. I wasn't sure what to expect but they are such a lovely team to work with as well as the other volunteers, who all have such a passion for the health and wellbeing of the animals. I am able to help clean out aviaries, which doesn't sound glamorous but it allows me to spend time with individual birds and learn about their habits and 'quirks'! I definitely get a workout when I’m at the sanctuary - which is a good thing! I have learnt a lot about how to care for the birds and other animals but also organisation skills, time management and generally being part of a team. The commitment of the staff is shown through their care of the animals and how they are able to help so many rescues that are brought through to the hospital (sometimes daily!).” Sarah

“Being newly retired I wanted to find volunteer work that offered variety but would also be fulfilling and worthwhile. I have always been interested in birds and in particular birds of prey, so an opportunity to volunteer at the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary was perfect for me. I enjoy all the varied tasks - whether it is carrying out the necessary cleaning of the bird's accommodation, doing the feed round or helping with bird exercise and displays, or even the gardening. It is great to do volunteer work with an amazing team at Suffolk Owl Sanctuary - there is never a dull moment.” Phil

“I’m learning all the time, whether it’s how to look after the different birds and animals, or the phrases used everyday that originate from falconry, such as “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush” or that “mantle” means to cover. I started volunteering because I wanted to get involved with falconry, but since volunteering I realise how much is involved and the commitment needed for looking after the birds is very demanding. I love spending time with the birds, especially helping to create enrichment for them. SOS have quite a few species of birds that I wouldn’t have seen or learnt about before. And of course, it’s nice to see all the baby owls every year, and watch them grow up over the years.”

“I am a studying for a wildlife conservation degree, so I wanted to gain practical experience working with animals over the summer, but I loved volunteering so much that I just keep coming back! I also love getting my hands dirty! I really am at my happiest when covered in mud in the torrential rain or getting covered in animal poo – it’s all just part of the adventure! I’ve learnt so much, from cleaning aviaries and prepping food, to flying the centre birds and learning how to pick up injured birds in the raptor hospital safely. I’ve also made so many friends, whether 17 or 70, but all a variety of like-minded people. What I love most is working with the animals that have cheeky characters (I’m looking at you ravens Rey and Charles!). Yet, as much as I love working with all the wonderful birds and animals, one of my favourite parts about working here is the people! The staff and volunteers are all super kind, fun, and have really taken the time and effort into making me part of the team and teaching me lots of new skills.” Izzy

 ”I volunteer at SOS because I love getting really close and personal with the wonderful birds you have. I particularly like the vultures, a species which gets a bad press, but which I am pleased to see SOS is helping to change. The staff and volunteers are great to work with, being so knowledgeable and friendly. I have learnt so much! I am also enjoying working outside, surrounded by bird calls, which is particularly lovely after a lifetime working indoors.”

Garden Wildlife Week 2021

We are often asked questions on how to attract owls into gardens. Owls are an apex predator, who require quite a large territory to find enough food for themselves, and any offspring they may produce. Whilst putting up nest boxes can encourage them, if there’s nothing for them to eat, then they won’t stay long.

Here’s some handy tips on how you can encourage more wildlife into your garden, which may result in some owls!

KEEP IT WILD! Leave areas of your garden untidy and overgrown, which will provide food and shelter for a number of invertebrate species. We are supporters of #NoMowMay, where gardeners are encouraged not to cut the lawn for the month of May. This allows many important pollinator friendly flowers to actually flower, and set seed for the following year. It also looks really attractive and you can help by counting the different types of flowers in your lawn and submitting to Plantlife and the #EveryFlowerCounts survey.

WET IS WONDERFUL! If you have space, create a pond! It doesn’t have to be very big - an old washing up bowl sunk into the ground is perfect for small gardens. Make sure there are varying depths and an easy access/ exit ramp for animals to use in case they fall in.
Here is some more information on How To Build a Pond.

Also, you should provide clean drinking water for wildlife as often as you put out food. This could be a shallow bowl or something more elaborate, but if you’re using a steep sided vessel, please put some rocks in the bottom to help small animals climb out.
Insects also need water, but are in danger of drowning. You can help by filling a shallow bowl with small pebbles or gravel and pouring water so that it just reaches the top. Insects will land on the dry gravel and walk to the edge to lap up the water.

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD! In the UK, we spend millions of pounds every year on feeding birds and other wildlife in our gardens. There are so many different types of food and feeder out there, we could write several blogs on the subject! But here’s a few handy tips:
Variety - different food will appeal to different species. For birds, using a seed mix which includes sunflowers (or sunflower hearts), millet, oats, maize, wheat will appeal to most species, although peanuts and niger seed are also popular. You can add suet/ fat balls and mealworms, but these should be fed in moderation.
We’ve created some instructions on How To Make a Bird Feeder.

For most mammals, they will just eat whatever they can find. Hedgehogs in particular are very good at eating things that are not good for them, which in some cases can be ingredients in hedgehog specific food. If you have hedgehogs visiting your garden, you should put out a small amount of cat or kitten food (they don’t like the fish varieties), either dry kibble or meaty. They should not be fed mealworms, peanuts or dried fruits (which are not good for any mammals due to the higher sugar content), or be given milk to drink (water is fine).

For insects, plant a variety of pollen and nectar rich native species, which flower at different times of year to provide food throughout the season. Yellow and blue flowers are particularly good.

Human scraps are not suitable for wildlife - although we’ve all fed bread to ducks in the park, it isn’t particularly nutritional for them and can cause problems if fed to young birds before they have fully developed. Likewise, throwing scraps onto your roof often attracts scavengers such as Foxes, Gulls and Red Kites, which can be an amazing sight to see. However, the day you forget to feed them they are likely to cause issues to you or your neighbours, and may become a nuisance.

Location - some birds will happily hang off feeders, while others prefer to forage underneath. Again, variety is key, and moving feeders around semi-regularly will help protect your smaller birds from predators such as Sparrowhawks.

Clean it up - Unfortunately, many diseases are spread at feeding stations, especially those that have many visitors. You should wash your feeders every time you refill them, or if you notice the food is not being eaten/ going mouldy. If you see any sick birds in your garden, you should consider removing your feeding station temporarily to prevent further disease. For more information on this, and to report any sick or dead wildlife in your garden, please visit Garden Wildlife Health.

HOME SWEET HOME! There are all sorts of homes for wildlife, and most are designed for gardens. Bird nest boxes usually come in two forms - a hole or an open nest. These appeal to different species and should be positioned appropriately (out of prevailing weather and direct sunlight, and with some cover from vegetation) You can also buy specialist nest boxes for species such as Sparrow (which like to nest as a colony), Swifts (which will involve ladders to place their artificial nests high on buildings) and of course, owls!
Other homes could be provided for Bats, Hedgehogs, Toads, and of course, what they all eat… insects! Our How To Build a Bug Hotel guide will help you get started using items from your recycling or found on a walk.


So, whether you have a windowsill or balcony, or a few acres to play with, it’s easy to make space for wildlife in our gardens.

If you follow any of our How To guides and want to share the results, please email info@owl-help.org.uk or share them with us on social media.

Live Cameras

Who enjoys watching TV soaps and dramas? Did you know that something just as captivating is happening right outside in our countryside, and you can watch it, for free, and from the comfort of your own sofa, thanks to dedicated individuals and organisations.

Norwich Cathedral Peregrine nest. Image credit Hawk and Owl Trust.

The use of remote cameras to monitor wildlife is nothing new, but thanks to cheaper technology their popularity has boomed in the past few years, and the recent lockdowns has led to many sharing their footage with a wider audience online.

Here is a selection of our favourites which you might be interested in (most of these websites have links to several different nests):

Hawk and Owl Trust - several cameras, including Norwich Cathedral Peregrines
https://hawkandowltrust.org/web-cam-live/norwich-cathedral-side

Wildlife Trust webcams - including Ospreys, Peregrines and Barn Owls
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/webcams

Nest Box Live - several cameras, including Kestrels
https://www.facebook.com/NestBoxLive/

Wildlife Kate - lots of nest cameras, including Tawny Owl and Kestrel
https://www.wildlifekate.co.uk/

Robert Fuller - lots of remote cameras including Kestrel and Barn Owl
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU0LJ9et5Tb3m7COFzShgLg

Dyfi Ospreys
https://www.dyfiospreyproject.com/live-streaming

Loch of the Lowes Ospreys
https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/

Mangolinkcam - links to lots of nest cameras from around the world, including eagles, hawks, vultures and owls.
https://www.mangolinkcam.com/webcams/birds/eagles.html

GUEST BLOG - Kartong Bird Observatory

Here at Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, you may have enjoyed seeing Jack and Rose, our pair of Hooded Vultures, who take part in our afternoon display. This species is listed as Critically Endangered and it is our aim to raise awareness about their plight. We hope in the future that any progeny produced will contribute towards international conservation efforts.
In early 2020, our Education Officer, Susan, visited Kartong Bird Observatory in The Gambia to carry out two weeks of bird ringing surveys in the area. The area is well known for birds, in particular the wintering ground of many common British migrants. There is also a stable population of Hooded Vultures, which the Observatory have been monitoring for a number of years. Here, she’s asked Roger Walsh, Vice Chairman of the Observatory to explain more about the work they do.

What is Kartong Bird Observatory and what work does it do?

First-winter Lanner Falcon captured near the disused quarries at Kartong. Photo credit Colin Cross

A migratory Eurasian Scops Owl being measured. Photo credit Susan Jones

The first bird ringing surveys at Kartong in The Gambia ran in October 2000. In 2009, Colin Cross moved out to live permanently in the village and the Kartong Bird Observatory (KBO) was subsequently formed in 2010. Since that starting point, there have been up to three survey expeditions each year aimed at gathering data about the importance of the area for wildlife, and for migrant birds in particular.

We carry out regular surveys of the birdlife, with a focus on recording the usage of different habitats by the migratory species that spend the winter months in West Africa. This survey effort involves mist netting of birds at different times of the year at a number of core study sites.

New birds that are captured are identified, ringed and measured while recaptured birds are recorded and measured. A subset of the species we capture is sampled for different research projects, including genetic sequencing, parasitology and isotopic analysis. Other survey work includes year-round recording of waders and seabirds using the littoral areas around the Kartong coastline, transects for core study species and observations of birds wearing coded colour rings.

KBO collaborates with university and conservation organisations on a number of research projects looking at different aspects of ecology and conservation of both migrant and resident birds.

What is a typical day like at KBO?

KBO research assistant Dembo Jatta putting a metal ring on an adult Shikra. Photo credit Oliver Fox

No one day is like any other at the Observatory. If an expedition is running, then team members generally get up at 0530 and head out to the designated ringing survey site for a 0600 start.
Some of the mist nets will be opened in silence while it is still dark to try to catch certain species like Owls and Nightingales. We are cautious about opening all the nets too early though as there are large numbers of bats in the area that come into roost and we prefer not to catch those!
The rest of the morning is spent regularly checking the nets and extracting any birds captured, returning them to the nearby base to be ringed, measured and photographed.
Generally by around 1030 it gets too hot for catching birds safely so we take the nets down and head back to our lodge for a rest.

The afternoons are an ideal time to look for birds marked with colour rings – especially gulls, terns and waders at roosting or feeding sites on the beach and estuaries. By early evening, when the temperature has dropped to a more manageable level, we can head back out to a new survey area and put up the mist nets ready for the following morning.

The variety of dry scrub, forest, freshwater wetlands, reedbeds and tidal estuarine areas means that each survey session turns up different sets of species and often a number of unexpected surprises.

Photo showing one of the local Observatory staff surveying the mangroves for waders. Photo credit Hugh Hanmer

 Can you describe the work you do with Hooded Vultures?

Wing-tagged Hooded Vulture Yellow-BA using the drinking pool at the Observatory. Photo credit Colin Cross

Three Hooded Vultures leaving roost to forage on the beach. Photo credit Hugh Hanmer

Like the majority of vulture species across the world, Hooded Vulture populations are decreasing at a worrying rate with an estimated decline of 62% in global population over the last 50 years and the species is now considered to be critically endangered.
However, in the coastal parts of The Gambia, it appears that Hooded Vultures are locally abundant and have adapted to be urban scavengers making use of a wide variety of food sources, including road kill, abattoirs, rubbish dumps and fish waste.

Understanding the population structure of different geographical groups of Hooded Vultures is necessary to determine the level of genetic diversity. We have a study underway to sample the genetic diversity at three locations in The Gambia and provide a unique insight into the population level mixing of these vultures. The blood samples taken from the vultures we are able to capture, individually mark and release, will also inform work on blood parasites. Knowledge about blood parasite diversity can be important in understanding the spread of pathogens and the influence of parasitism and disease on population levels. This work is being currently carried out in collaboration with Dr Jenny Dunn at the University of Lincoln.

What species of owls and raptors have you caught in Kartong?

As well as our focus on Palaearctic migrant birds we have captured a wide range of birds of prey during our mist-netting and other surveys at KBO, including:

Adult Lizard Buzzard showing underwing pattern. Photo credit Oliver Fox

·        Western Osprey

·        African Harrier-Hawk

·        Hooded Vulture

·        White-backed Vulture

·        Eurasian Griffon Vulture

Heavily-spotted underparts on this adult female Barn Owl of the affinis race from continental Africa. Photo credit Oliver Fox

·        Lizard Buzzard

·        Gabar Goshawk

·        Red-chested Goshawk

·        Shikra

·        Ovambo Sparrowhawk

·        Yellow-billed Kite

·        Western Barn Owl

Grey morph of the migratory Eurasian Scops Owl which winters in West Africa but is rarely seen there. Photo credit Oliver Fox

·        African Scops Owl

·        Eurasian Scops Owl

·        Northern White-faced Owl

·        Pearl-spotted Owlet

·        Grey Kestrel

·        Red-necked Falcon

·        African Hobby

·        Lanner Falcon

How can people help support the work of KBO?

The Hobby-like Red-necked Falcon is resident in Kartong and is most active at dawn and dusk when it hunts over the wetlands and woodlands. Photo credit Oliver Fox

As an organisation employing seven Gambians, we rely entirely on the financial support from individuals and groups. All the bird ringers who join our activities fully finance their own trips to West Africa. Therefore, we remain very grateful for any donations that contribute to our running costs.

We are currently applying for funding to support further work on vultures and any contributions towards this are particularly welcomed.

As well as the conservation science work with birds and other wildlife, the KBO team works closely with the local community in Kartong and surrounding villages in a variety of ways. This includes supporting youth initiatives, funding for health centres and community education projects. As part of this, we provide some funding for a dentist to visit and carry out regular hygiene checks in the local schools. KBO is proud to support this and other community projects in Kartong.

To find out more about Kartong Bird Observatory, please visit:
http://kartongbirdobservatory.org/

You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

SLOW DOWN for wildlife!

With restrictions lifting and everyone getting back on the road for work or leisure, spare a thought for wildlife. In “normal” times, the noise of constant traffic generally keeps most wildlife away from our busy roads. But with over twelve months of reduced traffic throughout the lockdowns, nature has forgotten the dangers of roads.

In the past few weeks we’ve had a number of patients admitted to our Raptor Hospital as a result of collisions with vehicles. Thankfully, all those admitted have not suffered lasting damage and have, or will, be released once they have recovered.

Here are their stories.

This Kestrel was brought in after being hit by a car. She was suffering from a severe head trauma and we were worried she may have a fractured skull. But after 24 hours she was showing the typical Kestrel fighting spirit and had made some improvements, although the trauma has caused her to lose some feathers from her left wing.

After a couple of days in one of our hospital kennels, she was moved to our indoor aviary where we can monitor her movement. She was still a bit sore from the collision but soon made use of the extra space.

The Kestrel continued to improve and was soon moved to an outdoor aviary. Having lost some feathers from her left wing in the incident, we were monitoring her closely to see what impact this had on her flying ability. Thankfully, there appears to be no lasting damage and the feathers will regrow when she next moults, so we hope to be able to release her in the next week or so.

This Tawny Owl was collected after being hit by a vehicle. She had a very sore head but fortunately no broken bones. Just because there are no obvious external injuries, doesn’t necessarily mean all is well, and she was monitored for any internal injuries for a few days.

Thankfully, she perked up and started eating for herself, although the swelling around her eye was giving us some concern. On our regular Vet visit, Elliott checked her over and was happy with her progress. She has some blood in her eye which we will continue to monitor, but her mobility has improved and we hope that she will be released soon.

This Little Owl was found in the middle of a road. She had swelling on her torso and upon investigation there was fluid in her abdomen. Otherwise, she was in good condition and was quite lively when admitted, so we put her in one of the hospital boxes so we could keep an eye on her. Over the weekend, she had other ideas and escaped three times, given our falconers the run around! She was found hiding under the hospital counters and enclosures, which resulted in some removal to contain her again! This proved to us that she was improving, and as the swelling was subsiding, we decided she could go into one of our smaller (but secure!) outdoor aviaries. She has continued to improved and we’ve arranged for her to be released near where she was found over the next few days.

Another Tawny Owl was been brought in after being hit by a vehicle. This bird had swelling around its eyes, head and neck, so will be monitored closely for any longer term damage.

This Barn Owl was brought in by a van driver, after it hit the side of their vehicle. It was very skinny, and we were surprised to find it was suffering from frounce. This infection doesn’t normally affect Barn Owls, but suggests it’s been using a water source used by other birds, namely Pigeons, which are a frequent transmitter of this infection. Thankfully, the owl had no broken bones, so in this case, being hit by a vehicle and brought in to us has probably saved it’s life! After some critical care he appears to have perked up a bit, so we’re keeping everything crossed he continues to improve.

What a difference a day makes!

This Buzzard arrived at our Raptor Hospital suffering from emaciation and an oral bacterial infection known as frounce. This is a yeast infection (also known as canker) and whilst healthy birds appear able to fight it off naturally, it can prove fatal if the bird’s health is compromised in any way. It causes swelling in the tongue and throat, which makes it uncomfortable to eat. This then leads to dehydration, as birds of prey get most of the moisture they need from their food.

Within a few hours of receiving critical care, the Buzzard was much brighter.

When the Buzzard arrived, we gave it a rehydration solution but knew it would be touch and go as to whether it would survive. It was put into one of our hospital boxes to recover and after just a couple of hours was already showing improvements. Within 24 hours it had improved enough that we could start treating the infection, and it was moved to out indoor aviary to give it a bit more space.

We hope that the infection will subside with treatment and that this Buzzard will be able to be released in a few weeks time.

Moving around in the indoor aviary, showing continued progress.

Little Owls

We've had a couple of Little Owls brought into the Hospital over the past week or so. One was found in a sorry state, with a nasty head wound. This could have been from a larger Bird of Prey, such as a Buzzard, or from a cat. The wound required veterinary treatment, so the owl was taken to our specialist vet who is providing critical care in the hope that it will recover. The second Little Owl was found on the floor in a skinny state, and had possibly also been picked up by a cat. Cats pose a big threat to our wildlife, and a bite from a cat can carry some nasty infections, so we’ll be keeping a close eye on this little one over the coming days.

Dementia Friends

During lockdown, some of our staff took the opportunity to become Dementia Friends.

Dementia Friends is an initiative by the Alzheimer’s Society, to raise awareness of this disease and help support everyone affected by Dementia.

Just a week after receiving her badge, our Education Officer Susan shared this experience:

“I was approached by a visitor who saw my Dementia Friends badge and declared "I have Dementia". Because of the training video, I listened as he told me how hard things had been during lockdown but how happy he was that he could get out now. We were watching the falconers flying Nova, our Kestrel and he commented on how the birds still remembered the routine.”

Being a Dementia Friend is about taking action, and we hope that by wearing our badges it will normalise conversations about this disease.

To find out more about the Dementia Friends project, please visit: https://www.dementiafriends.org.uk/

GUEST BLOG - Can birds help our mental health?

In the second of our Guest Blogs, we speak to Sandi Monger about the impact of having access to nature during lockdown on her mental health.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hey, I’m Sandi and am a nature loving, outdoorsy, adventure aspiring photographer and conservationist. Currently, I do not work in this industry but I go out for a lot of nature walks, am a member of wildlife groups, litter pick in my own time and I am an amateur photographer too.

For someone who used to be extroverted and really outgoing, life has thrown some things in the way which has made me the complete opposite. Nature has been my salvation!! I can talk to almost anyone and can even deliver workshops.

How important is the outdoors to you?

I have always been an outdoorsy person from when I was a child. I’m not one who plays video games or watches tv that much, even as a child... I was always outside playing games with my friends. As a teen I thought I was really cool so I pretended I didn’t like wildlife any more than the next person. However, I always loved watching the birds in the garden and I would actively search for insects. As I got older, I realised I needed to put myself first and that’s when my love for the outdoors and wildlife really came out. I have got to the point where I need to spend time outside every day, even if it’s in the garden, just to soothe my mind.

You mentioned you watch birds of prey when out for walks:
What species do you see most often?

Before lockdown one (March 2020) I rarely saw a raptor/bird of prey and that’s probably because I was working and only ever going on short walks. I was always so jealous of every person who saw one! When lockdown hit, I really struggled with my mental health because my whole family (in different households) were shielding except from me. This meant that I had to do everything which I didn’t mind because it got me outside! But this time outside was not enough, I needed more, I needed green space and wildlife to help me out. When we could, I ventured outside to my local green areas and that’s when I started to see them. We often saw the same individuals (usually kestrels and buzzards) because we couldn’t go far and only have 3 walks we go on.

We have 3 main walks that we go on, the first being called Catton Park. We see all sorts of birds but our main sightings include this kestrel, buzzards and sparrowhawks. This kestrel is extremely habituated to humans and dogs, we see her every time we go.

The ‘river walk’ we go on is filled with so much wildlife, small birds (tits, wrens etc), migratory birds (redwings, fieldfares), water birds (kingfishers, cormorants) and all the insects. One time we decided to take a break and watch the river because it’s incredibly soothing. That’s when I noticed a buzzard land just over the river in perfect view, I couldn’t believe it! Since then, we see have seen that buzzard almost every time we go there.

Most recently and early in the year, we have come across a tawny owl and 3 owlets!! My first ever owl sighting and one not to forget! Whilst I have loved seeing them, I also have a sense of worry because news spread over private forums, people starting flocking to see them, travelling outside their local areas, going to the trees off of the paths and disrupting the owls! For my own mental wellbeing and for the owls general welfare, I actually got in contact with a charity which is stepping up to help monitor the situation. Even though we see them so often, we always get mega excited and it’s as though a massive release of hormones hits me! I’m uplifted, instantly in a good mood.

‘The field with no name’ is a long walk down a big cycle route surrounded by lots of fields and marshes. This walks takes us out to a massive field, but it’s actually two smaller fields attached to each other. As soon as we walk in through the gate there is almost always a female kestrel. She is very active, flying from tree to tree! At the start of the year we also saw a male (my first ever male) and watched them following each other about and doing areal displaying, we were hoping for babies!!

What’s the most memorable encounter you’ve ever had?

During the national lockdowns, when allowed we (my support bubble) would venture out and go for walks. On our walks to the ‘field with no name’, we saw this buzzard almost every time we went to the field but she was extremely shy, she really didn’t like being seen, until a few weeks ago!

After not going to the field in a while we decided to go for our daily walk there. We hadn’t even entered the field when we heard ‘meeeew’, ‘meeeew’ over and over again, repeatedly as if a conversation was being had. This is when something amazing happened! I know it sounds dramatic but trust me, it’s worth it. Before going into the field we decided to walk around the river, by the roadside because we thought we would get a better view of where they usually rest. We were wrong, as we stood by the river, the two buzzards were flying incredibly low over the field until we saw the female swoop down and land on a tiny nest at the top of a tree.

We rushed round to see her properly and as we walked into the field, the male was circling above and we knew we shouldn’t go any further, so we didn’t. The female then flew away and we were gutted but it doesn’t end there. Because we usually see so much wildlife there we continued our walk around the fields and it wasn’t long until the buzzards came back, swooping incredibly low and flying back into that nest. This time we were already quite close so we just stayed still, not wanting to scare her away. She didn’t stay long again, so we carried on with our walk. Within about five steps she was back and properly investigating this tiny nest. The male then came down very low and landed on top of a small bush not too far away and within seconds the female joined him.

Both of the buzzards continued to fly very low and to investigate nest sites. We were standing on the side of this field where they had previously landed when the female came flying very low, about 5-10m from our heads. She was flying for ages, just above our heads until she decided that she may go back into that bush. Just when she was about to land, she clocked us and flew away.

So as you can see, birds have become a really important role in my life, in particular my mental health. If I'm ever stressed, sad or feeling down then I would always take myself out for a walk because my local birds always relieved that negative feeling. It's as though I became quite attached the the birds I saw regularly but also a sense of excitement when you saw a new bird.

What one tip would you give everyone to help wildlife?

One tip? That’s a hard one but I would probably have to say respect it! Respect it in terms of picking up your litter, not destroying habitats/nests or eggs, stop chasing birds, don’t pollute rivers with fishing gear but also just adjusting your attitude. I have seen many comments on social media or had many conversations with people who are really ignorant, you know? Some local fishermen will kill otters because they’re apparently taking their fish! The fishermen’s fish?! Get that, right!! But you will see many birds building nests filled with litter, or the birds are entangled with litter themselves. But it’s not just that, the little guys need help too #SayNoToTheMow. If everyone respected wildlife and nature then that would be a real stop forward, people will see the need for change and they would hopefully help.

New Nest Box for Hack Pen residents

We have a good working relationship with several local landowners, who allow us to carry out conservation work on their land.

We have previously talked about our hack pen, which is used as a final point of monitoring before releasing birds that have come into us at the Raptor Hospital. The hack pen is a large aviary with a feed hatch and a release gate. It allows birds to build fitness before release, and get used to their surroundings. It also gives them the opportunity to catch their own prey, as the pen has gaps at its base to allow small rodents access.

Local farmer Sam with Education Officer Susan at the hack pen, following a virtual chat with a school about our Raptor Rescue work.

Since it was installed last Autumn, we have released several Kestrels and Sparrowhawks onto the farmland, and monitored them using trail cams. Last month we reported that Sticky and Holewing Barn Owls had been paired together and placed into the hack pen before release. As a pair bonded couple, we were aware that they might want to breed, so provided a nest box inside the hack pen. When the gate was opened and the birds were free to leave, we were encouraged by them continuing to visit.

Barn Owls will often have two broods if the conditions are right, so we were keen to provide them with another option. After speaking with the farmer, we were able to provide a triangular Barn Owl box, which has now been installed on a mature Oak tree at the field edge.

Installing large nest boxes requires a bit more effort than the ones you might have in your garden for Robins or Blue Tits. The boxes are usually made of marine plywood, which although fairly lightweight, can be rather cumbersome to manoeuvre into position. This is especially true if fixing to a tree, which is rarely flat and smooth, and often has branches in exactly the wrong places! It is important to note that in fixing the nest box, care should be taken not to damage any part of the tree.

Barn Owls particularly like an open view from their nests, whereas Tawny Owls don’t mind having some cover to help hide their nests.

Farmer Sam said “We are very keen to help Barn Owls on the farm, we have been part of an agricultural environment scheme since their inception in the 1990’s however the latest stewardship scheme has really improved habitat for all species.  Being a bird of prey we can use the barn owl population as an indicator species for how our habitat management is performing.  If we can create the right habitat for insects and invertebrates then this will provide a food source for larger species and so on.   We have had great success with our current owl boxes and so when Suffolk Owl Sanctuary suggested a location on the farm for another box we were very keen to install it. 

I’m not sure there is a more pleasing sight than watching a barn owl out hunting the hedgerows or grassland.”

If you’d like more information about building or installing nest boxes for Owls, please visit:
https://www.owl-help.org.uk/wild-owl-nestbox-project

Spring is Sprung!

As we prepare to open our gates and welcome visitors back to the Sanctuary, the timing couldn’t be better to see the spectacle of spring in all its glory! Towards the end of March and start of April the daffodils really put on a show across the site and the blossom on the cherry and hawthorn bushes added some colour to the tree tops.

In the woodland walk, primroses and violets have made way for the large fronds of Lords and Ladies. We’re leaving some areas of the Sanctuary a bit untidy to encourage wildlife. In the pond, some of the amphibians have been busy creating the next generation of toads, frogs and newts!

Our birds have also been enjoying the good spring weather and have been getting back into routine in preparation for displays starting back soon.

"Grandad" Owl

A few weeks ago we reported that we had started ringing some hospital birds before release, in order to try and find out what happens after we release them.

Bird ringing in the UK is co-ordinated by the British Trust for Ornithology and involves catching wild birds under licence and attaching a small lightweight metal ring to their legs. Each ring is inscribed with a unique alpha-numeric code which identifies that bird as an individual (a bit like our National Insurance Number). This means that if that bird is encountered again, we get an idea of it’s life history.

Many birds are ringed as chicks still in the nest, and we have supported the Thornham Owl Project for a number of years to enable this monitoring to continue. Ringing chicks in the nest allows ringers to determine exactly what age the birds are, as different species have different moult strategies, making it harder to age adult birds to an exact year.

Last week we received a call from a local vets to see if we could help with a Barn Owl they had received. The owl had been picked up from the side of a road, so we can assume that he’d been hit by a vehicle. Upon arrival with us, he was assessed for injuries and thankfully there were no obvious breaks so he was given some pain relief and time to recuperate. In the process of checking for injuries, we discovered that he had a metal ring on his leg, so once he was settled into one of our hospital aviaries, Jess submitted the ring number to the BTO via their website.

The digitalisation of ringing records results in much faster reports back, and she soon received a reply with the original ringing details for this bird. Turns out, he was ringed as a chick near Boxford on the 26th May 2012, making this bird almost 9 years old! This is by no means a record breaker - the oldest Barn Owl recorded in the UK was over 15 years old when it was last encountered.

In the wild, the average age of Barn Owls is only about 4 years old. Most birds perish in their first winter, struggling to hunt in bad weather and getting into territorial disputes with other birds. When the young leave their nest, they don’t usually travel very far, and this bird was picked up at Long Melford, which as the owl flies is only about 7 or 8 miles away from where it hatched.

This owl was a bit wobbly on his legs for a few days but has made good progress and we will hopefully be releasing him near where he was found soon.

For more information about Bird Ringing, please visit:
www.bto.org

Long term hospital patients ready for release

When a bird comes into our hospital, we always hope to release them back into the wild as soon as possible, providing they are fit and healthy enough to survive. However, for two Barn Owls, they have spent a significant part of their lives in our hospital due to coming into contact with man made threats.

Sticky came to us in September 2019 having been found stuck in a glue trap. Despite our best efforts to minimise the damage, the glue took several days of delicate washing to come free from the feathers, by which time it had already caused irreparable damage to those primary feathers. All birds can moult their feathers if they get worn or damaged, and in raptors this usually takes 2-3 months for them to replace 2-4 feathers (they won’t replace all their feathers at once as this would make it impossible for them to fly and find food in the wild).

Falconers have learnt ways to encourage a bird to moult, and these methods were used with Sticky. However, she wanted to do things in her own time and, as she would in the wild, she grew out her feathers 3 or 4 at a time.

Holewing was found in May 2020 having been caught up in barbed wire. We recently shared another blog about fatal fences. Holewing was so named because of the hole in his wing, which our consulting vet, Elliot, did a marvellous job of patching up. Because of the damage, we knew that Holewing would need more time in our hospital than most birds, so we decided to put him in a large aviary with Sticky.

These two become companions over the past few months. We were pleased to see the hole disappear in Holewing’s wing and Sticky moulted the last of her damaged feathers.

We intended on releasing them via our Hack Pen, which was completed in October last year, but given the length of time they had been with us, we didn’t want to rush this process. We had a few other birds that we felt would benefit from a period in the hack pen before release, so Sticky and Holewing stayed with us over the winter. Then at the end of January, just as we were planning on putting them out, we were hit by that snow, and if there’s one thing that knocks Barn Owls, it’s snow!

Holewing on the left and Sticky on the right, both ready for release.

Having waited until early spring, we hope that the weather will not cause any issues for the Barn Owls when they are released. In preparation for this, Sticky became the first rehab Barn Owl to be ringed for a number of years, as Holewing already had a ring on! This means we were able to find out exactly when and where he was ringed - in a nest box east of Thetford in 2014 as a chick!

Sticky being given a unique metal ring.

Ringing wild birds is useful as it helps scientists see why populations change over time, track migratory birds which may be caught on either their breeding or wintering grounds here or abroad and also gives an idea on the general health of birds. Barn Owls are routinely ringed as chicks in nest boxes by licensed volunteers, as Holewing demonstrates.

Susan is a bird ringer, so was able to assist with taking biometrics of the birds. Here she is measuring Holewing’s wing length.

By ringing our rehab birds, we hope to discover where our birds disperse to after release. We are keeping everything crossed that they may be subsequently found breeding in one of the many Barn Owl nest boxes found in the area as part of the scheme we run in conjunction with volunteers from the Thornham Owl Trust and is funded by the generous donations of S.O.S. supporters.. We will share any ringing recoveries here on our blog, so watch this space!

Sticky, showing off all her new feathers which she’s grown while in our aviaries.

For more information about bird ringing, please visit the British Trust for Ornithology website:
www.bto.org

Making improvements while we're closed

It’s almost a year since the pandemic closed our gates. We were fortunate to be able to reopen towards the end of the summer season and enjoyed a few months of “business as usual”, albeit with restricted numbers, social distancing and extra cleaning and washing going on. We closed our gates again in December, in response to the outbreak of Avian Influenza, and have remained closed to visitors as part of the nationwide lockdown since, although our hospital has remained open throughout.

BUT…we have not been idle during this time!

Last year during the summer lockdown, we built some new off-show aviaries to give some of our birds a break during their annual moult. These will also be used for some of our breeding birds and can be furnished with suitable perches and boxes as necessary. We are grateful to a local manufacturer who donated wood offcuts to us, which has enabled us to create a variety of new perches and nest boxes for our aviaries.

Over the winter, we took the decision to cut back the Rhododendron hedge between Ozzie the Kookaburra and our Flying Team aviaries. Winter is the best time of year to cut back hedging as you’ll cause the least disturbance to wild birds, and whilst the resident Starling flock have lost this roost, there are plenty of alternatives they can choose from in the vicinity of Stonham Barns. This has not only lessened the risk of having the wild birds near our aviaries, but has also let in much more natural light to an otherwise relatively dark area of the Sanctuary. We’re sure Ozzie is enjoying a bit more sunshine now!

We’ve also replaced the fencing around our Children’s Play Area.

Last week, work began on improving one of our original octagonal aviaries, which has stood for 25 years! Mir, our Steppe Eagle who took up residence here around the same time, has been temporarily moved to another aviary while the work was carried out. This has involved removing all of the wire mesh and cutting back the vegetation which is a natural feature of this aviary. We then replaced the mesh on the roof and most of the sides, but have enclosed a couple of sides which face into the prevailing wind. This will give the residents a bit more shelter from inclement weather. We also added a hatch, which will allow us to put flying team members into this aviary in the future.

With a reopening date coming up soon (hopefully the 12th April), our attentions are now turning back to the birds and getting them ready for meeting the public again, so make a note in your diary.
Our Advance Booking system will be open from March 20th and we look forward to seeing you again soon.

World Wildlife Day 2021

For World Wildlife Day 2021 we thought we would celebrate the wonderful Wildlife that call Suffolk Owl Sanctuary home!

Many of our visitors will know that in addition to our captive birds, we attract numerous wild birds, from Blue Tits, Robins and Blackbirds to Starlings, Green Woodpeckers and Sparrowhawks. Sometimes our pond on the flying arena even attracts ducks, but they never stay very long!

We also encourage insects to pay us a visit, and last summer we planted wildflower mixes in some of the spaces between aviaries to provide food for pollinators such as butterflies, moths, bees and beetles, as well as to brighten the place up a bit.

Our Woodland Walk features several wildlife friendly areas, including a pond, insect hotel, log piles and overgrown areas. These are vital refuges for insects, birds, amphibians and small mammals, where they can find food and shelter.

To find out how you can make your own garden wildlife friendly, why not visit our resources to:
Make a Bug Hotel:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5751dba960b5e94cd64107d5/t/600333ce1e378c5ba11e821d/1610822626798/How+to+make+a+bug+hotel.pdf

Build a Pond:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5751dba960b5e94cd64107d5/t/60033341c50f244aee4ed2a8/1610822478289/How+to+build+a+pond.pdf

Make a Recycled Bird Feeder:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5751dba960b5e94cd64107d5/t/60033385655a78118b966f52/1610822555316/How+to+make+a+bird+feeder.pdf

When we had snow in January/ February, we placed a Trail Cam on the Flying Arena and captured this lovely footage of a night-time visitor.

GUEST BLOG - Dr Elliot Simpson MRCVS from Aquilla Veterinary Services Ltd

Here at Suffolk Owl Sanctuary we work with a variety of people and organisations. We thought we’d ask some of them to share some insights into their work.

To kick us off, we’re happy to introduce Dr Elliot Simpson MRCVS, who is our specialist avian vet.

How did you get to where you are today?

Well, where to start! It probably really began, somewhere very similar to SOS. I was absolutely fascinated by seeing birds, and in particular birds of prey, within falconry centres and zoo collections. This fascination then manifested into a passion, and after studying the various sciences at Sixth Form College in North Norfolk, I took a gap year to further my volunteer experience. I worked for three months in the Falkland Islands with Falklands Conservation, volunteering with camp treks across the islands to perform the annual penguin count census. I also volunteered with their veterinary team, which was part of the Agriculture Department.

In 2009, following my gap year, I was fortunate enough to get a place at Bristol Vet School. Having qualified in 2014, I began work as a mixed large animal vet back in Norfolk, steadily building up my experience working with zoo and avian patients.

In 2019, myself and my fiancée Sophie (who is also a vet) spent some time volunteering with providing medical care to the animals on a small island in the Caribbean, where they filmed much of the infamous pirate franchise. One police officer, coconut-filled beaches, and only a weekly food delivery to everyone. A true desert island!

At the start of 2020, I then launched my own zoo and avian veterinary service. And having just celebrated our first year anniversary, here we still are!

Can you describe a normal day in the life of an avian vet?

The first thing to probably say is the best part of the job is that no day is normal, and no two days the same! But generally speaking, admin begins at 06:30; any urgent emails or accounting work, followed by walking the dog at around 07:30, then usually the first call in the morning, starting around 09:00. This will usually involve visiting a client (as most are small zoos/owners of exotics). Sometimes patients are booked in for procedures, whereby I work with a local (and very kind) small animal practice in Norfolk to facilitate surgical or diagnostic procedures.

Afternoons are usually, if there are no emergency or other calls, filled with writing up the notes from any calls in the morning, replying to more emails, and, generally, paperwork! Every patient has their own file, which, every time they are seen, has to have everything recorded.

What have been your most interesting/challenging cases?

A very good question. Avian cases can often be very challenging, due to the fact that birds are generally very bad at showing any signs of being ill. It means that often by the time you may notice something is wrong, they are very sick.

We recently had to see a barn owl that belonged to a private owner, that was cohabited with a small number of other barn owls. On this particular day, for whatever reason, this barn own had suffered a presumed attack at the hand of the others.

This was a challenge as not only did we need to treat the exhausted and hypothermic (cold body temperature) owl, but also consider changes that had to be made to avoid another attack happening in the future. This is where being a vet can be very rewarding, as not only are you treating the animal in front of you, but you often have to play detective to work out the whole story, and how to address the bigger issue. I am pleased to say that the owl made a full recovery, and is now doing well!

What one tip would you give everyone on how to look after wildlife?

Hmmm... one tip! That is a tough one. I guess, as a sneaky answer to try and cover as wide amount of wildlife as possible, my one tip would simply be this; whatever you do, be wildlife- mindful, and do not let perfect be the enemy of good.

You have a hedgerow to cut? Consider the wildlife, and when may be best to cut it, when it won’t harm nesting birds. Have space in your garden? Why not put a bird table out there? You have the option of buying three peppers loose or three in plastic? Make that conscious effort and avoid the plastic. You have an area of the garden you could seed as wildflower or just leave to overgrow and see what happens? Do it! Don’t be put off thinking “that small pile of leaves in my garden won’t make a difference,” as every little bit everyone does, really does add up.

Being wildlife-mindful doesn’t have to be at our detriment, or a chore - it is engaging, thoroughly rewarding, and to be honest, surely is our duty. Especially when we have such a beautiful array of species living on our doorstep, that are facing such uncertain times ahead. Learn to enjoy wildlife, as it is far more enthusing to involve yourself with something you enjoy.

Tawny Owls need to learn the Green Cross Code!

We’ve recently taken in two Tawny Owls who have been involved in collisions with vehicles.

This individual was found by one of our volunteers after being seen by the roadside and was unable to fly or stand. Upon investigation he was found to have a slight fracture to the pelvis which luckily was not displaced so we hope with a bit of rest and recovery he will be back to normal. Until then he is enjoying a much needed warm break from the weather!

Our second Tawny patient found itself concussed after flying into the finder's lorry. He was kind enough to pick him up and bring him to us for assessment and was found, albeit a bit dizzy, to be suffering no obvious injuries. A very lucky tawny! He should be on his way soon after some rest and recovery

Buzzard boy

This sweet male buzzard was brought to us by Loren at Ryder Davies vets in Woodbridge after being found on the ground. Luckily he was in decent condition, albeit a bit thin, but was suffering from a sore leg which potentially could have been the result of an RTA.

After a few days indoors he was showing signs of improvement so was put outside in a flight aviary to recover further and within a week feeling much better. He has since been returned to where he was found and released.

Kestrel feeding time

We’ve had a busy few weeks in the hospital. This is to be expected when the weather takes a turn for the worse. The prolonged cold spell and deep snow makes it difficult for all wildlife to find food and stay warm, but for young birds experiencing winter for the first time, it can be deadly.

This young male Kestrel was found at the side of a road in a weakened state and was taken to Uplands Vets. They couldn’t find any obvious injuries suggesting it had been hit by a vehicle, but did discover that he had an oral infection. Usually this is a common infection called frounce but Uplands were kind enough to culture the growths and found it to be clear of trichomonas parasites so he is currently being treated for a bacterial infection instead. It is possible that he picked up an infection from being in poor condition and foraging on the floor beside the road.

When he first arrived he was very weak and needed to be hand fed small strips of high quality meat and offal (heart, lungs, liver etc) with no casting (feathers/bone) to limit the stress on the body. As you can see he was very thankful of the meal!

Once he has gained some strength and is feeding by himself, he’ll be placed in one of our aviaries to give him some more space to build up condition before he is released.