HawkTalk Issue 92 Winter 2022

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HAWKTALK WINTER 2022 ISSUE 92

What’s it like to be an intern at the Hawk Conservancy Trust? Meet Mel and Fern – this year’s Conservation and Research interns at the Hawk Conservancy Trust! We caught up with them to see what they’ve been up to since joining us over the summer:

Our work together One of the main ongoing projects we have been involved with is the monitoring of prey availability for our wild birds of prey. This is usually how the day begins, as small mammal traps must be checked early in the morning to minimise the amount of time the animals are kept inside. The traps are very appealing spaces for the small mammals to spend a night due to the warmth of the nest box filled with hay, and all the tasty treats we put inside them! Once the traps are opened, the necessary data are taken (for example species and weight) and the animal is released. We have usually found bank voles or wood mice, but on occasion we’ll get a less frequently seen mammal, like a pygmy shrew or yellow-necked mouse! After I’ve checked all the traps, we head back to the office. The morning usually consists of writing any notes from the morning so that we have accurate data or working on some of our research projects. Alongside the small mammals, we are also conducting surveys into other biodiversity on the Hawk Conservancy Trust site. Every week, we aim to survey the pollinator, bird, vegetation and butterfly communities, with a particular focus on Reg’s Wildflower Meadow. When it comes to the wild nightlife around the park, camera traps allow us to observe the more elusive animals that we rarely get to see for ourselves such as foxes, deer and badgers.

Mel’s work Every day is very different, I have been lucky enough to assist in checking the nest boxes of our Raptor Nest Box Project as well as releasing several rehabilitated birds from the National Bird of Prey Hospital back into the wild! I have also been involved in some desk-based projects conducting data analysis on UK birds of prey with trichomoniasis admitted to our National Bird of Prey Hospital, and conducting literature searches based on research on vultures in Africa.

“I have been able to get involved in lots of ongoing projects contributing to the conservation of birds of prey.”

Mel

Fern’s work I have predominately focused on digitising and mapping records from juvenile Tawny Owls that were released and radio-tracked a few years ago. I also monitor the native wildlife at the Hawk Conservancy Trust iNaturalist as part of the BIAZA Spotted on Site Project, for any sightings of wild plants and animals that have been made by the public on site. We are grateful for the support from our Official Partner, Investec, for their support in making these internships possible.

Fern

“I particularly enjoy the bird surveys, as they are an opportunity to stop, listen to and enjoy our native birds.”