As the year draws to a close, we like to look back and reflect on our achievements at our National Bird of Prey Hospital™ and share the stories of some of the birds we admitted. 2020 was no exception, though of course the year we are looking back on has been no ordinary year. Nevertheless, we are proud of the work we have achieved, despite the challenges we have faced.

As the year draws to a close, we like to look back and reflect on our achievements of the year. 2020 is no exception, though of course the year we are looking back on has been no ordinary year. Nevertheless, we are proud of the work we have achieved, despite the challenges we have faced.

As the year draws to a close, we like to look back and reflect on our achievements of the year. 2020 is no exception, though of course the year we are looking back on has been no ordinary year. Nevertheless, we are proud of the work we have achieved, despite the challenges we have faced.

In very sad news this week we learned that the Secretary Bird (Sagittarius serpentarius)and Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus) are among the species up-listed this year on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. The two species are now categorised as Endangered, and considered to be at very high risk of extinction.

Here you can read more about Nature’s a Hoot, and access resources, photos and extra insights from our fifth episode, Rewilding. Hannah and Tom chat about what rewilding means, and how it is beneficial for wildlife on large and small scales, and Tom visits the Cotswolds to chat to Tabitha Rose, a rewilder and and nature enthusiast! Listen now to the Nature’s a Hoot fifth episode Rewilding. Don’t forget to subscribe!

Throughout the year, we are constantly monitoring our birds and their living conditions, and making various renovations and repairs to their accommodation. For our breeding birds, this can be a little trickier as we prefer to leave them undisturbed during the breeding season and so this has to be done visually and from afar. Outside of the breeding season, we take the opportunity to catch them up for a full health check and, at the same time, carry out planned maintenance work on their aviary before returning them. This involves a big team effort to ensure we can make the […]

We are delighted to announce our Marion Paviour Award winner this year is Dr Georgia Jones, from Bournemouth University, and her project on Kestrel diet analysis here in the UK! The Trust is extremely pleased be part of this fascinating project working with Kestrels, especially as we work so closely with this Amber-listed species. We are extremely grateful for the generous donation from E3 Leadership Development, which made this award possible. We caught up with Georgia to find out more about her, and this fascinating project we are very happy to be helping to support:

Anyone who has visited us will know that we really love vultures, and many of our regular visitors will know that Kat Ralph from our Bird Team has a particular favourite in Burdock, one of our resident Turkey Vultures. During the summer months, you can often see Kat flying him as a pre-show act to our 2pm display in Reg’s Wildflower Meadow. We’ve caught up with Kat to find out more about the delightful Burdock:

Every year, our team go to Dronfield Nature Reserve, near Kimberley in the Northern Cape, South Africa to take part in the annual week of fieldwork ringing and tagging African White-backed Vulture chicks. This year we sent our Africa Project Officer, André Botha, along with Angus Anthony, former manager of Dronfield Nature Reserve, who we have been working with for a number of years. Here is André’s fascinating account of his trip:

Here you can read more about Nature’s a Hoot, and access resources, photos and extra insights from our fourth episode, Wildlife and Well-being with special guest environmental psychology lecturer Dr Kayleigh Wyles from Surrey University.