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Education

A primary role of The Hawk Conservancy Trust is education. This is particularly important for our younger visitors.

Each year many school parties come to visit. Before the visit, teachers can receive an information pack, which gives details about The Hawk Conservancy Trust. Additionally, the pack will contain worksheets for the students to complete during the day. The worksheets are designed for younger students, and encourage them to learn about the birds at the park whilst answering various questions.

Whenever school parties come to visit, we change the commentary of the 12 o'clock display to suit the age of the school group watching. Whatever the age group, the demonstration always shows a wide cross-section of raptors. Contact education is also very useful. After the display, children are encouraged to hold a British bird of prey. An important condition, however, is that they can correctly identify the bird they are holding.
Although many raptors (particularly eagles) have been used as mascots and emblems of power throughout history, it is unfortunate that they have suffered persecution for many years. This mainly stems from the belief that they are damaging to stock and game. In most cases the poor reputation is due to circumstantial evidence. For example, an eagle eating a dead sheep does not mean that the eagle has killed for itself. Birds of prey will often take advantage of 'free' food, and an animal that is already dead presents too good an opportunity to miss. For this reason vultures in particular have a poor reputation, and during our demonstrations we try to convey the positive aspects of these birds. Intelligence, cleanliness and beauty in the air are just some of their features.

Since being built, the study centre has been useful in many ways. Originally used as the site for our courses and activity days, the study centre is now used exclusively for static displays and occasionally indoor flying demonstrations when the weather is particularly bad. Apart from this, there are a large number of displays which provide information about all the major groups of raptors. Photographs, skeletons, stuffed birds and other features help answer the most immediate questions. Additionally, there is a multimedia system, which can play calls and short videos of raptors in action, as well more extensive information about many species in general. Question and answer computers test the knowledge of those who try the quiz. By far the most important means of educating our visitors are the flying displays. Seeing the birds in action helps dispel many myths which have surrounded raptors for centuries. During each display there is a detailed commentary designed to highlight the main features of the birds being flown. After each bird or birds there is the opportunity for questions and a chance for the more inquisitive visitors to test the knowledge of the commentator. The final demonstration of the day, the Heron and Raptor Feed, takes place in the hides at the top of the grounds. The commentary aims to highlight the features of managing a wildflower meadow and also describes the history of the meadow and how the herons came to be fed there. Depending upon the time of year, there may be young raptors that have recently been released, in addition to the older birds which have been released in previous years.

Objectives:

• Develop and promote training course for students and the public on:
• Raptor biology and husbandry
• Raptor first aid and rehabilitation
• Habitat assessment and release techniques
• Conservation breeding techniques
• Continue the development of library facilities, for the use of staff, students and external researchers
• Publish the work of the Trust in an annual report and additional newsletter to supporters of the Trust.
• Publish the results of research in relevant peer-reviewed scientific and/or occupational journals and other publications.
• Publicise the work of the Trust via lectures, talks and presentations. Apart from groups interested in the work of the Trust, contact will also be made with schools, universities and colleges. Such presentations will also facilitate the recruitment of research students to new or ongoing projects.

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