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Meet Tanith!

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Please give a warm welcome to Tanith Jones, who joins our Conservation and Research Team as our new Research Assistant! In this exciting and important role, Tanith is supporting our UK Conservation Biologist Dr Matt Stevens with our vital conservation work. She’s already got stuck in carrying out transect surveys, helping monitor nest boxes, and even building a few of them herself!

“I am very excited to have recently joined the Hawk Conservancy Trust as a Research Assistant within the Conservation and Research Department. Growing up in Hampshire, not too far from the Trust, I have memories of my parents teaching me how to identify Kestrels and Buzzards from the car on the way to school. It is very surreal to now be working here, 15 years or so later, as part of a very knowledgeable and engaging team that share a wonderful enthusiasm for birds of prey.

I recently graduated from Bangor University with a BSc (Hons) Zoology with Animal Behaviour degree. My initial drive to study stemmed from wanting to pursue veterinary medicine, but during my studies, I quickly found my true interests lie within the world of conservation and research, and of course, birds!

In my third year of study, I completed a 12-month placement in the Scottish Lowlands as part of an EU-funded project, PARTRIDGE. This project focused on farmland biodiversity through specifically designed agri-environmental schemes, their management and the monitoring of our native grey partridge. This year really cemented my love for conservation and how these projects can help improve our understanding on how to protect species through evidence-based conservation. It was eye-opening working alongside landowners, farmers, a variety of scientists as well as politicians; Each person playing an important role, collaborating toward improving farmland biodiversity.

My final year dissertation project was based on Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) morphometric and accelerometry data, investigating energy expenditure of foraging flights around Bardsey Island (Ynys Enlli). I was fortunate enough to be able to visit the bird observatory here, getting involved in daily bird counts and ringing. It was an unforgettable experience listening to the eerie sounds of thousands of Manx Shearwater at night, and after months of processing the flight data on a computer, it was incredible to have the opportunity to work in-person with these hardy birds and put the project into a whole new perspective.

Both experiences highlighted my wish to work in ornithological conservation and research, and so to be a part of the British Raptor Programme is very exciting. This programme involves a variety of UK-based conservation projects, including the Raptor Nest Box project, small mammal trapping and raptor transect surveys across the Southeast of the UK. Supporting Dr Matt Stevens, our UK Conservation Biologist, I am looking forward to using my previous experiences as a foundation to contribute to these projects, learn more about our beautiful birds of prey and how best to protect their future within our countryside. The last few months have been action-packed, and I have very much enjoyed getting stuck in from the get-go!”

Jennie is flying high!

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We’re delighted to share that Bird Team member Jennie Marshall has passed her Level 3 Zookeeper and Aquarist Apprenticeship with flying colours! A very well-deserved accolade for nearly two years of hard work. We chatted with Jennie to reflect on her time working towards this qualification, the skills she’s learnt along the way, and close bond with one particular bird she’s bonded with through it all…

I started at the Hawk Conservancy Trust in October 2021, where I began my Level 2 Apprenticeship qualification. After completing this, I then began my Zookeeper & Aquarist Level 3 Qualification in February last year, and after completing this in October this year I am now a fully qualified keeper!

Throughout my Apprenticeship I’ve really enjoyed learning how to care for the birds across all sections here at the Trust. As well as learning how to care for the birds in their aviaries, I love working with the birds during our flying displays, and learning about the ways of working with them and the training techniques that take place.

As part of the Apprenticeship, I’ve not just learned about birds of prey, but all types of different animal groups and species, and how to look after them. When we covered mammals, our Miniature Donkeys Mickey and Molly were the focus of my attention for a while! I really enjoyed this – they are such a fun pair of animals to work with, and I look forward to looking after them twice a week when my colleague Ryan Stephens (their best friend) is on his days off.

But, during my time here, there’s one specific bird who I’ve really bonded with…and that’s Burdock the Turkey Vulture! We obviously don’t have favourites here, but Burdock is pretty high up on my list! We’ve worked really closely together since I started at the Trust, both in flying displays and working alongside him on my Apprenticeship.

As part of my qualification, I had to demonstrate training techniques with our birds, so choosing a bird to work with for this was easy! Together, Burdock and I worked so that he would feel comfortable hopping into a transport box. This is a really important thing for our birds to be able to do confidently, as it means if he ever moves aviaries, needs to go to the vets or have a health check, it can be done really smoothly and as easy for them as possible. Burdock is a very inquisitive bird by nature, but can be a bit nervous when new things are introduced into his aviary or his daily routines. This training centred around building on the trust between us, not rushing things and letting him go at his own pace. There was learning for both of us to do!

His first introduction to the travel box was quite positive – he immediately went up to it, and spent time going in, around and jumping on top of it. After investigating it, he seemed content with it being in his aviary. We’ve gone through some trial and error with different training techniques – sometimes he would run into the box before I asked him to, and sometimes he would hop in and would refuse to come back out, seemingly content to stay in there of his own accord! We are currently trying Target Training – a method where Burdock will go to an area indicated by a target and receive his favourite tasty treat when he does so.

I’d like to think the feeling is mutual with Burdock – in fact, he’s made it pretty obvious he’s a a fan of me too! There was a period of time where if Burdock was flying with another member of the team and I was onsite, he would use his fantastic sense of smell to sniff me out! He demonstrated this fantastically once while I was running an Owl Experience session in our Woodland Arena – a gate-crashing Turkey Vulture was a bit of a surprise for everyone! There were times he would fly the entire perimeter of the site to try find me if he thought he could smell me. So I think the favouritism is returned – although I’m not quite sure how to take it really as his species is used to sniffing out rotting carcasses! We’ve now combatted this, but sometimes when he’s out flying I make sure I’m hidden out the way – just in case.

And the winner is…

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We are delighted to announce our latest Marion Paviour Award winner for 2024 – Kioko Kilonzo!

Kioko’s project focuses on reducing human-wildlife conflict and protecting critically endangered vulture populations, particularly by engaging local communities and collaborating with them.

In early 2024, a poisoning event at a ranch in Laikipia, Kenya, killed over 50 White-backed and Rüppell’s Vultures. This ultimately inspired Kioko’s project, ‘Mitigating human-wildlife conflict: protecting critically endangered vultures in Laikipia, Kenya.’

Unlike many poisoning events effecting vultures in Africa, where poachers purposefully poison carcasses to target vultures that give their position away, this particular event was fuelled by conflict with large carnivores – with the poisoned carcass believed to be intended for lions as a strategy to reduce threats to livestock. Measures taken by people to protect their livelihoods from real or perceived threats from wild animals can often have wide impacts on animals not intended to be impacted, as was the case here. Projects that seek to change that are vital for creating and maintaining healthy ecosystems.

Kioko shares some thoughts on winning our Marion Paviour Award, and his hopes for his project below!

“I am deeply honoured and thrilled to receive the 2024 Marion Paviour Award! Thank you to the Hawk Conservancy Trust for this recognition and support of our vulture conservation work in Laikipia.

The recent poisoning incidents affecting critically endangered vultures in Laikipia, Kenya, highlight the urgent need for conservation action. As a passionate conservationist working across Kenya’s diverse landscapes, I’ve witnessed firsthand how human-wildlife conflict threatens these magnificent birds. This project represents a crucial intervention, combining rigorous scientific monitoring through field surveys, camera trapping, and community-based data collection with innovative conservation approaches. Through the Marion Paviour Award, we will be able to establish a comprehensive monitoring system, train a network of local vulture guardians, implement early warning systems for poisoning incidents, and create sustainable community engagement programs in Laikipia. My career aspiration is to develop innovative solutions that bridge conservation science with community needs, ensuring the long-term survival of vulnerable species. This award will be instrumental in launching our comprehensive vulture conservation initiative, which we hope will become a model for similar projects across East Africa. By combining traditional knowledge with modern monitoring techniques, we aim to create a future where vultures thrive alongside human communities, maintaining their vital role in our ecosystems.”

We are excited to hear how Kioko’s project progresses – watch this space!

A tribute to Nigel Lewis

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We are sad to share the news that Hawk Conservancy Trust Vice-President Nigel Lewis passed away on 14 November. Nigel became the Trust’s Vice-President on 24 July 2009, after working closely with Life President and Founder Ashley Smith. We remember him fondly for his dedication to conservation, especially his work at the forefront of Barn Owl conservation, and his mentorship to other conservationists, bird ringers, and local communities.

Nigel spent many years of his life working to conserve Barn Owls in Suffolk, before moving to Wiltshire in 1983.  After moving, he carried on working with this species in the south of England for more than 30 years. Throughout this time, Nigel oversaw the recovery of Barn Owl populations across Salisbury Plain. Working largely of his own accord, in the early years of his work it was often just him and his wife, Betty, who would climb up trees to install heavy Barn Own boxes into place. In those early days, many of the nest boxes were made from re-purposed ammunition boxes! One one point, Nigel and Betty were featured on the Really Wild Show with Chris Packham, now the Trust President.

Alongside his work with nest boxes, Nigel was also a mentor to many young (and not so young!) bird ringers and conservationists. He worked hard to engage his local communities with the work being done to improve habitats for Barn Owls, and encouraged those around him to get involved in protecting these beautiful birds.

In 2006, he reached out to the Hawk Conservancy, asking for volunteers to help support his work by making Barn Owl boxes for him. Life President and Founder Ashley Smith wanted to recognise his incredible contribution to conservation, so asked him to become Vice President in 2009. Ashley described Nigel as:

“A wonderful man and passionate conservationist – he was at the forefront of Barn Owl conservation. Through his lifelong endeavours, he helped inspire many other individuals and organisations such as the the Hawk Conservancy Trust to implement similar projects. We will always be thankful for his advice and support.”

The Trust’s Raptor Nest Box Project, which started in 2008 with 38 nest boxes, was inspired by Nigel and his work. Throughout the timeline of this project, Nigel worked closely with our UK Conservation Biologist Dr Matt Stevens. Speaking about Nigel, Matt said:

“Nigel was very witty, knew when to be stern, but was always very fair.  We shared a lot of stories and information, and a lot of laughs, during our weekly Thursday meet-ups each year from April to August, where we would work together to monitor owls and Kestrels around Salisbury Plain. He’ll be missed as a teacher as well as a friend to a lot of people in the conservation community.”

 

 

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