Members Newsletter November 2007

Centre News

Firstly congratulations to Liz and Dave on their wedding on 20 October, I'm sure everyone will wish them a long and happy life together. Just to let you know Dave took 700 photos in Kenya so be warned!

Another busy few months, with 67 birds being treated in the hospital this quarter, with 19 being released, 6 rehomed and another 8 awaiting release.

From January the onsite veterinary practice, will open one day a week on a Wednesday. Open to the general public, which can deal with raptors and all other domestics pets, please contact us for details of opening hours.

As another successful year draws to a close, we would like to thank you all for your continued support and wish you a Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year.

We look forward to seeing you at the centre in 2008.

Hospital News

August 2007 - October 2007.

The "life care" Little Owl & White-faced Scops Owl are a captive bred donations.

Did you know..

It costs between £80-£90 in postage to send each member a paper copy of this newsletter. To help reduce these costs and our impact on the environment please let us know your email address so we can send your copy of the newsletter electronically and lets all go green.

From the next issue, if we already have your email address on file you will receive the newsletter by email.

Meet the team..

The Frost Family, Volunteers

This months meet the team is a family affair - Paul, Suzanne and their son Michael all volunteer at the centre.

Paul

How did you first hear about the Raptor Foundation?
My mum told me about it. When I first came over 7 years ago there was no fixed admission charge - what I didn't realise was that you had to pay with your life and soul and I'm still paying to this day.

How do you contribute?
In the way Liz approves of, by doing as I'm told. While not at the centre working - I maintain the website, update signs and write things for the education room - Liz makes sure you work even when you're not there.

Why do you help?
Because I'm a sad and lonely "billy no mates" (words of my offspring). When I go home with only minor cuts and bruises I can convince myself that at least the birds like me.

Favourite Raptor?
Too many to mention I love them all.

Why?
They are all different - all have their own personalities - unlike most people I know.

What has been your best experience so far?
The time a member of the audience offered to go and get her first aid kit and stitch my eyelid after Jill tried to blind me rates highly. But every time Clunk goes back into her aviary rather than off into the fields is brilliant!

Tell us something else about yourself?
I spend my real life sat at a computer writing software to make whisky. I'm also an international author.

Suzanne

How did you first hear about the Raptor Foundation?
Through Paul.

How do you contribute?
Help at twilight flying and school visits.

Why do you help?
I find it interesting and enjoyable.

Favourite Raptor?
Tuba. (Suzanne named the Great Horned Owl born earlier in the year, unfortunately it died after she wrote this.)

Why?
Because she brought out my maternal instincts when only 2 days old. I was allowed to hold her while Liz fed her.

What has been your best experience so far?
Flying Vanessa, vultures are a much maligned bird and she was amazing with that great wingspan.

Tell us something else about yourself?
I am a music teacher and I love singing and playing my double bass.

Michael

How did you first hear about the Raptor Foundation?
Through my dad.

How do you contribute?
Occasional volunteering

Why do you help?
I enjoy being around the birds, and having that opportunity.

Favourite Raptor?
Vultures.

Why?
Playful nature they always have.

What has been your best experience so far?
Manning down a new harris hawk and flying vultures.

Tell us something else about yourself?
I play viola and am currently attending Southampton University studying Computer Science.

Birds Eye View

Hello I'm Tessa; I was born in 1993 and came to the Raptor Foundation in 1997. My previous owner didn't want me anymore; luckily Liz and the team took me under their wing.

I am a Saker Lanner Lugger falcon. I am unique in that I am a hybrid, which means I get the best features from all the breeds.

From the Saker falcon species I get my size, they are the second largest falcon. Breeding in middle Europe eastward into Asia. A bold and ferocious falcon, the Saker attacks prey much larger than itself, it is greatly favoured by falconers.

From the Lanner/Lugger falcon I get my speed and agility. The Lanner falcon is a native of all of Africa and the southern parts of Italy, Sicily, Greece and Asia Minor. The Lugger Falcon is a resident of the central and northern parts of the Indian sub-continent, the Himalayas, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

One thing all three species share is when anxious or excited they emit a shrill, piercing, almost screaming voice.

Don't forget to find out more about all the birds at the centre come along and say hello.

Tessa

Falconry Terminology

Bating :
Attempting to fly from the fist or perch, while still attached. This can happen if the bird is startled, upset, fearful or impatient to be flying.

Casting :
Bringing up the indigestible material that has been eaten (e.g. fur, bones and feathers), in pellet form. This is normally done once or twice a day. The stomachs of the hawks and falcons are much more acidic than those of owls, enabling them to digest even the bones of the prey which are left in the pellets of owls.

Footing, Footy :
Footing is the action of the hawk taking her quarry with her feet. It is often used to refer to some bird's habit of attacking the falconer (quite often the ungloved hand) with her foot. A bird is said to be 'footy' if it has this habit. The action is quite often defensive; sometimes it is aggressive and deliberate.

Imping :
This is the procedure of repairing broken or damaged primary and tail feathers. An imping needle, or small thin piece of wood, such as a cocktail stick, is inserted into the shaft of the feather and the rest of the feather glued into place. It is usual practice to retain primary and tail feathers during the moult, so that they can be used for imping, in the event that the original feather is lost or unrepairable. The word is derived from the Old English word "impian", meaning to implant or graft.

Imprinting :
This is the term used for describing what happens when very young birds are raised in the company of humans. They come to accept humans as their parents and source of food. For some birds this may be done deliberately, it is quite often the accidental result of taking a bird from her parents at too young an age. An imprinted bird is often referred to as an 'imprint'.

Manning :
'Taming' a bird by carrying on the fist. This is the first stage of training for the bird, getting used to sitting on the gloved fist of the falconer. Manning continues throughout the bird's life. It is getting and keeping the bird accustomed to the proximity of people, which by nature, they do not like.

Mantle :
The action of a bird spreading her wings, fanning her tail and arching over her prey, so hiding it from other predators, including other birds. From Old English/Norse for cloak.