HawkTalk Issue 92 Winter 2022

A message from our Chief Executive Penny Smout CEO

In this issue

Meet our newest

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team members Meet our winter stars

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How are you doing? A question that is often asked, but seldom answered honestly. I ask because it’s been a tumultuous time over the last few months and we’ve all probably been feeling a bit more worried and unsettled than

Ryan ran!

Our hospital annexe is open! Egyptian Vultures in Central Asia Project An interview with Dr Campbell Murn Marion Paviour Award update Christmas gift ideas

normal (although what is normal nowadays?) Hopefully, with the lovely weather we have had, you have managed to visit and enjoy some healing and rejuvenating time at the Trust. We are still here, and doing our best to work on our mission to help birds of prey, and to keep moving forward on the park. You’ll see some evidence of that around the grounds. We have recently had two tall wooden towers installed at the meadow to really showcase the soaring flight of our biggest birds. The team are excited at what this will mean for our 2:00pm display and Othello, the African Fish Eagle, has already decided that they offer a handy perch. Definitely a good sign! We have also unveiled the new aviaries by the Woodland Arena. Their magical design has been crafted by our master volunteers, Viv and Mike. I love all the details they have included. Another amazing volunteer, Gary (aka Q), has added some technical wizardry. The funding for these came from the family of Stuart Featherstone, a long-time member and staff favourite, who sadly died in a car accident. We were delighted to have his family visit recently to be the first to see them unveiled. You can find a plaque to commemorate Stuart on the arena side of the aviary. You will notice that we have the disinfectant mats in the entrance. This is to try to protect our birds from the raging cases of bird flu which are already worse than prior years. Please do make sure you walk over these mats when you come in. We are also implementing additional biosecurity measures around the site including spraying down any vehicles that come into the park (beyond the car park) and not encouraging wild birds to our site. If you have any of your own birds at home, such as chickens or ducks, we ask that you wear clean clothes that have not been around your birds when you visit us. If you’d like any advice on biosecurity, we’d be happy to share what precautions we are taking. While we are trying to avoid wild birds around the park, we have been able to return to our annual visit to South Africa to ring African White-backed Vulture chicks. The team were delighted to be back with our colleagues, especially as this year marked the 30th Anniversary of the start of the programme at Dronfield near Kimberley. Campbell has also been able to return to his projects in Kruger and has managed to catch up on much that was missed in the last two years. You may have noticed that we have increased our admission fees. As with everyone else, we are facing increased costs across the board and fear the impact of the end of government support for business energy costs in March. However, we are striving to keep our membership fees the same for you, which will make membership even more of a bargain, providing endless days out for no extra cost. Of course, if you are interested and able to help us more, then we do have some supporter options or you could consider joining the 100 Club and whilst it is not such a cheery topic, you could always remember us in your will, understanding that family always come first. Please let us know if you decide to do so, and we’ll add you to our Legacy Club. Finally, I am planning to attend the Walk for Wildlife 2 on 26 November in London. Please let me know if you would like to join a group from the Hawk Conservancy Trust at this event.

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Dates for your diary

Christmas Market , Thursday 24 - Friday 25 November Winter Woodland Lights , 13-29 January 2022 Evening Owls , Selected Dates in spring 2023 www.hawk-conservancy.org/events 01264 773 850

Hawk Conservancy Trust Visitor Centre, Sarson Lane, Weyhill, Andover, Hampshire, SP11 8DY T: 01264 773 850 E: info@hawkconservancy.org www.hawk-conservancy.org

REGISTERED CHARITY NO: 1092349

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