Spring has sprung...

Despite the lingering frosts and a slight reluctance for the weather to finally shake off winter, blue skies over the Sanctuary over the last few days have given us all hope that spring is indeed on the way. And there are signs that our raptors are beginning to feel the same way too - on Friday of this week Andy was surprised and delighted to discover that a Lanner had produced two beautiful eggs, shortly followed by a third.

The expectation is, that the Lanner will lay a fourth egg some time over the weekend. Unfortunately, this particular young lady has a bit of a reputation for smashing her eggs, so the plan is that they will be taken away after about twelve days and put into the incubator to hatch.

Amongst other things, now is the time when the incubator is thoroughly cleaned out and disinfected, ready for just such an eventuality. Although left spic and span at the end of each season, the incubator is re-sanitized again at the beginning of every new season, just to be totally on the safe side.

This Goshawk is the first tenant of the new creche aviaries

Improvements are being made all the time at the sanctuary and over the last couple of weeks Dean and Andy have been working hard to put up the three new crèche aviaries. At last they have been completed, creosoted and secured with netting (the netting covers not just the top, but also the whole of the inside of each aviary so that the birds can't hurt themselves when they fly around). The aviaries definitely provide five star accommodation for their new occupants; one has a young Goshawk in and the other a new Saker Falcon.

On the road to recovery - the ‘bumblefoot’ Tawny (see our recent story) is getting better & due for release soon - the ‘seeing eye’ above him is part of our CCTV system, which enables us to keep an eye on vulnerable birds without disturbing them

You may remember that of late we have been concerned about a young Tawny Owl that came into the Sanctuary back in December but are now pleased to report that, despite the setback of an infected foot, the Tawny has now finished a course of antibiotics and things are looking much better. At present, he is resting in one of our flight recovery aviaries (which you can see in the 'Work of the SOS' section) and it looks as though, weather permitting, it may be possible to hack him back to the wild some time next week. Fingers crossed!

We think this recent inmate was the victim of a glancing blow from a passing car or van - but he is not seriously harmed and should also be released soon...

But, there’s never a dull moment here and just as one Tawny is about to be released, another has landed on our doorstep. It appears as though this one has been in some kind of road traffic accident, thankfully after a thorough investigation the falconers are fairly certain that there is no major damage. Although a certain amount of blood in the Tawny's mouth was of some concern, checks to wings, feet, vision, hearing etc seem to suggest that he was probably the victim of a glancing blow from a windscreen or, perhaps, the top of a van. More specifically, the Tawny's awareness seems to be absolutely fine, which thankfully suggests that there isn't any brain damage. Forty-eight hours under observation in the sanctuary's raptor hospital will be sufficient to see whether the Tawny is well enough to be released and, as always, we will keep you updated on developments.

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A Sad Loss

It is with very much regret that we announce the unexpected & tragic demise of one of the Trustees of the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, Mrs Paula Beckett, who died recently as a result of complications which followed a recent onset of double pneumonia.

Paula has been associated with S.O.S. since its establishment and a Trustee for the past four years. She served the charity in a supervisory capacity with humour, good grace and a natural degree of common sense which proved invaluable. Her sparky character and behind-the-scenes diligence in monitoring the execution of our responsibilities will be much missed by everyone involved with the running of Suffolk Owl Sanctuary.

Paula is succeeded by her husband Fred and three young children, to whom we are sure you will join us in extending heartfelt condolences.

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Hedgerow Visitors

As you may imagine, the conservation of owls & other birds of prey is extremely important to us here at the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary. However, we are also equally interested in the welfare of the native songbirds species & throughout the year, Brian Thompson and his band of volunteers from the British Trust for Ornithology regularly visit us here to ring the various species that frequent the Woodland Walk at Stonham Aspal.

Dunnock (Courtesy www.blueskybirds.co.uk)

We have just had the BTO's annual report on the birds ringed here last year, the result of their series of visits during 2008. During the breeding season, Brian rings the pulli (youngsters in the nest) found on the site. Thereafter, birds are periodically caught in ‘mist nets’, which resemble large volleyball nets strung between two poles: used by trained professionals, they are a very efficient way of catching wild birds in flight with very little risk to their safety and well-being. Once caught, the birds are then very carefully removed, weighed, sexed, aged and then ringed before being safely released.

Yellowhammer (Courtesy www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk)

By and large we had more birds from the Tit and Finch families recorded than any other species, but the variety was surprisingly diverse. The list for 2008 included a Woodpigeon, wild Little and Tawny Owls, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wrens, quite a few Dunnocks, Robins, a number of Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Starlings, a House Sparrow, Chaffinches, Greenfinches and Yellowhammers.

Great Spotted Woodpecker (Courtesy www.birding.in)

In total, there were 171 birds recorded here last year. Not a vast number, but with all the other recordings made across Britain, these statistics help to compile a valuable historical record which helps the BTO see trends in the various species and to assess whether they are increasing or declining in number. Other vital information such as details of breeding, distribution and movement can also be gleaned from the overall statistics.

Back in the here and now, life continues to be busy at the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary. The new aviaries are coming on a treat and the re-acclimatisation of the flight display team after a winter of moulting, rest & recuperation goes on… more of all that anon. And just to keep you updated, our poor Tawny Owl from last week is still receiving treatment for its infected foot - hopefully, all will be resolved successfully without undue delay.

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If at first you don't succeed...

As usual, amidst the excitement of new aviaries being built, floods, snow-storms and getting the display birds back to fitness, the important work of raptor conservation continues at SOS.

At the moment, thankfully, the hospital is relatively quiet, with the exception of a tawny owl that arrived on the SOS doorstep back on the 8th December 2008.

As with many of the birds of prey who come to us here at the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, this tawny owl was in a pretty poor condition. Apart from being in a state of distress, he was also very dehydrated which, in a bird of prey, can be as devastating as starvation. Our first priority was to get some fluids back into the poor little fellow via a process known as ‘crop tubing’. This enables important fluids to be introduced from the throat directly to the stomach. It can look a little bit uncomfortable, but it’s the most effective way of ensuring that these essential fluids, including glucose and vitamins, are released into the bird’s system. It is an absolutely vital element to aid the process of recovery.

Once the tawny owl was in a fit state to be properly examined, the falconers were able to assess any damage more clearly. It was obvious that the owl had an injured toe and, on closer inspection, it was agreed that the best option was to amputate it.

Once again, as on so many occasions, the team at Stowe Vets were called in and with their help and expertise, the amputation went smoothly and we hoped that the tawny owl was now well on the road to recovery.

Ah, well, best laid plans…

On the morning of Friday 20th February 2009 (which just goes to show how long it can take to rehabilitate an injured bird of prey) one of the falconers discovered that the tawny had an infection in the foot which had had the toe amputated. So on Friday afternoon, we waved Dean back off to Stowe Vets again and…

Well, as soon as we know the outcome, you will too!

For the moment, life at SOS trundles on.

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Topped and Tailed

The first week in February is an exciting time as the falconers at the Centre start to look ahead to the new display season, when many of our birds are flown free to demonstrate to our visitors their many & varied aerial skills. This year, the season begins on Good Friday in mid-April; not as far away as it seems - but hopefully considerably warmer! There's a lot to be done in preparation and first priority is to begin to reclaim some of the display team.

Having had a good rest over the winter months, the first raptors to be reclaimed at SOS were 'Comet', the male Peregrine Falcon and 'Nell', the Saker Falcon. Both Comet and Nell have had an extra long sabbatical from flying, as they both began to moult early at the end of last season (moulting is where raptors drop old feathers to make way for new ones to grow). Now that they have finished their moult, their retraining can begin in earnest.

Initially, once Comet and Nell had been reclaimed, the first thing the falconers did was to place a hood over each bird's head. This helps to keep them nice and calm whilst the rest of the necessary equipment is attached. Next, each bird had an anklet, jess and bell fastened to its leg. The jess is part of a tethering system for attaching the bird to a perch or glove. The bell helps the falconer to keep track of a bird when it's flying free. After this Comet and Nell each had a swivel and leash attached, which helps to prevent them from getting tangled up on their perches.

New jesses & bells are fitted, giving the falconer an aural take on where his charges are!

Whilst the birds are relaxed & quiet, two other important bits of ‘bird m.o.t’ are undertaken - coping, by which any overgrown elements of the beak are gently & carefully filed back so the creature has no difficulty eating; and ‘clipping’, a process where the over-long talons are clipped back. Then comes the important fitting of the 'tailmount', which allows a transmitter to be affixed before the bird is flown free - if one of the falcons suddenly gets a bit of 'wander lust', the falconer can easily keep track of it so that it doesn't get lost.

“Coping” - gently filing away any overgrowth of the beak

Now complete with their various bits of equipment, it was time for Comet and Nell to have their first 'weigh in' - something we all dread post Christmas! Comet weighed in at 1lb, 9.5 oz; just a little on the tubby side - time to cut out the mince pies and start up the exercise regime! Nell weighed 2lb, 4.5 oz - slightly lean for her species, so the weeks ahead will be used to build up her flight fitness.

At last Comet and Nell were ready to put on their perches, where they settled comfortably as though they had never been away.

And so the new falconry year begins!

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News of Poor Wolter...

Welcome back to the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary blog. We would like to wish you all a slightly belated, but none-the-less heartfelt, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Life has been extremely busy at the sanctuary since the posting of our last blog and we have a number of exciting projects lined up for 2009 - about which, more in a minute.

But first, you may remember just over a year ago, we posted a story about ‘Poor Wolter’, who also featured on our ‘adopt-an-owl’ leaflets. To recap briefly, Wolter came to us in a rather confused state, with a terrific shiner, looking as though he had tackled Mike Tyson.

Since then we have had many interested enquiries about Wolter’s state of health, but we can’t give you an up-to-date report because, thankfully, he’s flying free back in the wild - and we haven’t seen him since his release. But suffice to say we hope the healing benefits of time, lots of TLC and, as always, the skill and dedication of the team here at SOS, stood him in good stead since we sucessfully hacked him back to his natural environment.

Now, a lot’s been going on here at the Sanctuary over the winter, and over the next few weeks we’ll bring you up to speed on a variety of topics. We’ve been working hard to produce a new teacher’s pack for use in primary schools - our aim being not only to inform young people about birds of prey, but also to help raise awareness of the importance of conservation issues and protection of wild animals in a local and global context. If you’d like to know more, please email info@owl-help.org.uk

Meanwhile Andy and his team are also working away in all weathers repairin’ and a’fixin’ the aviaries, and - following our successful DEFRA Inspection - making sure we comply with the many new rules & regulations that have recently come into play for establishments like ours in the interests of the health & safety not only of our avian wards, but also human visitors, too!

We’ve also been planning our new events schedule for 2009 with all kinds of entertainments and holiday fun for all the family, as well as some treats especially for all those hard working mums and dads, too. Check out the S.O.S. Events 2009 page for the list so far... but watch this space for further additions, or better still, subscribe to our RSS Feed by simply clicking the button at the bottom of the column to the left here - then all the news from the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary will automatically be delivered to your computer or phone whenever it’s published.

Finally, a couple of days ago, we witnessed a nostalgic arrival at our doors in the shape of this rather handsome vintage bus. Its occupants alighted without the slightest idea of what to expect, as they were part of an enthralling mystery tour from Norwich. But our team were ready and waiting to enlighten them with a guided tour of the centre, and we understand a good time was had by all!

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All's Well...

A week is a long time in falconry, and just seven days ago we were all very much down in the dumps following the break-in at S.O.S., during the course of which 10 owls were irresponsibly released by vandals as they smashed their way through 30 of the aviaries at the centre, leaving a trail of some £2000 worth of damage to locks, woodwork & netting behind them.  

Police continued to use the evidence they gathered to find the perpetrators, and want to speak to a group of three men aged in their late teens to mid 20s who were seen walking along the A1120 towards the A140 near to the sanctuary at about 8.30am on Friday 6th September. They had shoulder-length hair and were carrying bags. Calls in relation to this incident should be made to Pc Paul Cocksedge at Eye Police, 01284 774100 or Crimestoppers, 0800 555111.

Meanwhile, a week later we’re very pleased to report that things are now getting back to normal. Following an anxious time when we pondered the fate of Isis, the Pharaohs Eagle Owl - the only raptor who had not made it back to the fold after an intensive week of hunting and gathering by our falconry team - a wet and bedraggled creature returned to the Sanctuary late on Friday afternoon.

Returned to the fold - Isis was safely gathered in on Friday afternoon

That was Matt, our head falconer, soaked to the skin and muddy to the elbows. However, he did have with him Isis, who had finally retrieved from a garden just a couple of miles from the centre. Pleased to say, Isis appeared none the worse for wear if perhaps a little hungry - a kindly neighbour had alerted us to his whereabouts mid-week and Matt, Andy & Dean then paid daily visits to leave food in the vicinity, but though Isis was reluctant to be caught up in the early days, Matt is convinced the thought of a proper meal was what probably diluted his resolve to remain in splendid isolation up a tree for much longer.

OVERWHELMING SUPPORT 

It has to be said we were surprised by the levels of publicity the event generated, but even more so, by the amount of sympathy and generosity which has poured forth from well wishers since last weekend. Suffice it to say your support has been very encouraging in the face of adversity, and we thank each and every one of you for your heartening messages!

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Last weekend saw the East Anglian Country & Falconry Fair take place at Stonham Barns, right next to the Sanctuary, We would love to say it was a rip-roaring success - and for many it was - but the cloud of gloom being experienced by our staff was perfectly matched by the rain clouds that dominated the skies for much of the event, soaking a great many people in the process.  

Nevertheless, falconers being a hearty lot and well used to tramping cold, wet and muddy landscapes throughout the winter as they give their birds the freedom of the skies, were undeterred by the downpours and all had a good time meeting suppliers, colleagues and associates as they swapped stories & experiences. We are sorry that the persistent rain may have spoiled the day for some of our younger visitors but be assured, we’ll have ‘a word upstairs’ to see if we can ensure good weather for next year’s event!

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Attacked by Vandals

As you may have heard or seen on national radio and TV, we're sad to report the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary was attacked by vandals on Thursday evening last.

Breaking in through one of the perimeter hedges, the perpetrators used bolt cutters and brute force to cut off the security locks of 30 aviaries in an attempt to release the enclosed birds from their habitats. Luckily only a dozen birds flew off, with the remainder choosing to stay put in their familiar surroundings.

Manager Andy Hulme discovered the crime when he arrived for work at 8.30am on Friday, noticing one of the Snowy Owls sitting loose on a grassed area at the centre. A quick investigation revealed the magnitude of the damage, and the discovery of one of the released Eagles attacking a Harris Hawk on our flying ground. which was a distressing sight.

Andy & a policeman inspect the damage

Having separated and re-housed these two, our immediate thought was for the survival of the birds that had been set loose, because with one exception they were hand reared, non native species who would - without the immediate knowledge & experience of fending for themselves - find it difficult to survive in the wild for more than a few days without nourishment. Paradoxically our greatest fear was for one of our tiniest birds, Titch the Burrowing Owl, who as a very small desert-dwelling species would be unable to find a suitable diet even perchance and would also be subject to mobbing or attack by larger birds.

The locks of 30 aviaries were smashed and birds released

The media were soon to pick up on this aspect of the story and led with it as the main aspect of their reporting - "Free to Die" was one newspaper headline, followed by an article castigating the callousness of those who committed the act, and pre-supposing that should the vandals be activists, they were very ignorant ones.  

For our part, we think animal rights activists are unlikely to be behind the break-in, as in our experience they are usually well intentioned, have a considered knowledge of their targets and usually claim responsibility for their actions.  

Rather, we think that this was a case of willful vandalism by those who did not appreciate that they were putting the lives of the birds at risk, and we are just left to wonder how, when we spend so much of our time caring for injured birds and releasing them back to the wild, as well as erecting a network of nestboxes in the wild to help sustain non-captive populations of endangered species, anyone should single us out for attack.

Nevertheless we are pleased to report that throughout the last couple of days Andy and his team, aided and abetted by a number of volunteers who turned up at the Sanctuary to help, managed to retrieve 11 of the 12 escapees, the majority of who were found roosting in trees in the vicinity. Naturally, there was a whoop of delight when, around 5.30pm on Friday a very bedraggled and desolate Titch was found in a neighbouring copse by Matt, our sharp-eyed head falconer!

Titch was eventually found bedraggled but none the worst for wear…

Through Saturday & Sunday, our hunt went on for the missing bird, whilst the police continue to work with some possibly incriminating evidence they removed from the crime scene, to catch the criminals.

Meanwhile we would like to thank all of you who e-mailed or telephoned your support & commiseration's from all parts of the UK following the broadcast of the news in the afternoon; and also to our loyal workforce and band of volunteers who spent cold, wet & worried days out in the field trying to salvage the situation. You have done a marvellous job.

To the perpetrators, we say this: if you have issues about the work of the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary and its activities and would like to discuss them, please contact us - we will be happy to illustrate and demonstrate (we are sure, to beyond reasonable doubt) that the work we do is valid, and that the destructive action taken by whoever wilfully let loose these birds did nothing the improve their quality of life or chances of survival - in fact, you did exactly the reverse.

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A Sticky Situation

An odd case of “Barn Owl Meets Fly Papers” - this mature bird fell down a chimney but in trying to find an exit, he encountered fly-papers - mayhem ensued! It took hours of skill & patience to disentangle his feathers without damage and he was released fit & well!

A Tiny Handful - this pair of Little Owls were released after attention

Meanwhile this pair of unrelated Little Owls were brought into S.O.S. separately - one with a leg so severely entangled in twine we thought at first amputation might be the only course of action. But it recovered in time and with the other - a foundling - both were ‘hacked back’ to their natural surroundings soon after.

Downy but not out - once he has matured, this young foundling will be released back to the wild

This Barn Owlet was found abandoned (if their chicks fall from their nest, adult Barn Owls will pay no further heed to their offspring and so they remain unfed) but we were able to resuscitate him - he is now fledging nicely and will soon be flying free.

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One Planet Living Award

We were very pleased to be the recipients of a special honour earlier this year when we received a grant under the B&Q One Planet Living Award Scheme. The scheme aims to help organisations across the UK which are working on projects that aim to enhance the local community and will help us build a sheltered observation station for visitors to the Sanctuary and gain some respite from the Suffolk Downpours! Seen here at the presentation centre are (right) Sir Michael Lord, M.P. for Central Suffolk together with (from left) Andy & Pungu our Bateleur Eagle; our good friends Dean & Denise from B&Q Ipswich and S.O.S. stalwart Marie Robinson who puts such a lot effort into our fundraising activities. Well done all!

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Waveney Owl Project Update

As reported in our blog earlier this year, SOS made a donation towards the purchase of nest boxes for erection throughout the Waveney Valley and Gipping Valley schemes organised by the Thornham Owl Project volunteer group.

Here one of their guiding lights, Roger Buxton, brings us up to date on progress:

“Box checking continued throughout June, with an additional two pairs of Tawny Owls fledging four chicks being found in Barn Owl boxes, making a total of fifteen Tawny chicks fledged from nine nest box sites.

There’s good news on the usage of Little Owl, in that two pairs have raised four chicks using the boxes we provided. There does appear to be a reluctance for Little Owls to use artificial nest sites, but this could be attributed to the availability of more natural nest sites in the area for this species of owl.

One of the Little Owls about to be put back into the nest after ringing

The checking of Barn Owl boxes continued into July. Eleven chicks and five adult birds have been ringed so far and there are a further nine sites which have eggs or very young chicks in them, which we will continue to monitor these. As in 2007, there are two pairs of owls nesting in boxes in the Gipping Valley, with the other boxes showing signs of being used as roosts.

Careful handling is required when ringing young Barn Owl chicks like this one

The bulk of our success seems to continue in the Waveney Valley, where two of the chicks we ringed last year are now breeding adult birds. However the breeding activity of Barn Owls here does appear to be very irregular this year, with a number of nest sites being abandoned. We suspect one of the possible reasons for this may be the rather cold and wet weather conditions that prevailed through most of June, which had a detrimental effect on the breeding activity of their main diet, the Vole.

Kestrel chicks ringed so far this year total twenty from eight nest box sites, with a further four boxes which have eggs or very young chicks in - we will continue to monitor these. Boxes designed primarily for Barn Owls continue to be used successfully by Kestrels.

Stock Doves also continue to use Barn Owl boxes and so far this year eighteen chicks have been ringed.”

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He comes from a land down under!

Three stages of Bookbook - from 1 week to 5 weeks

As regular readers of the blog will be aware, we have had a good breeding season at SOS this year and would like to introduce our latest member of the ‘team’ - one which adds another degree of international dimension to the Owls that reside here.

Auckland’ (or ‘Auckie’ as he is affectionately known) was hatched here at the centre in May and has proved to be quite a character. He is the second chick that our pair of Boobook Owls, Darwin and Tasmin have produced: his training went very well and he has already become a valued member of the display team.

Boobook Owls are native to Australia, New Zealand and New Guinea - a small brown owl which is about as common as our own Tawny Owl in terms of numbers in the wild.

Bookbook Owls inhabit woodland areas and though especially favouring Eucalyptus plantations, can be found almost anywhere where there are trees including even in inner city parks. They primarily catch insects - either in flight, straight off the ground or by picking them from vegetation. The Boobook may also take small mammals such as mice, and even bats & birds up to the size of Sparrows. They will also take lizards basking in the early morning sun on rocks and tree trunks.

Getting its name from the distinct “boo - book” call it makes, Boobooks breed between August to October, building nests in tree cavities. They lay 2 - 3 eggs which are incubated for up to 35 days: the young will be ready to fledge by the time they are 5 weeks old and usually remain with the parents for a further 2 - 3 months.  

Although widespread and unthreatened in the wild, the introduction of the Little Owl to New Zealand about 60 years ago has given the Boobook competition for nesting sites and food, tough this has not proven to reduce the native numbers.

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South America comes to Suffolk...

We'd like to tell you about two new birds who have joined us at the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary - a pair of Yellow Headed Caracaras. The distinctive character, gait, feeding habits & colouring of these intelligent avians will add an interesting dimension for those that visit the Sanctuary to learn all about birds of prey, their lifestyles & conservation.

Caracaras belong to the family of falcons known as Falcondae. They are native to the South American continent, with the Yellow Headed variety living on the savannah, in swamps & around forest edges from Nicaragua to northern Argentina, whilst other of the genus live high in the Andean mountains. They are also now found on the islands of Trinidad & Tobago.

Though of the falcon family, Caracaras do not resemble ‘familiar’ falcons at all. They have much longer legs and necks, with rounded wings and, unlike other falcons, are not fast-flying aerial hunters but rather sluggish on the wing. This is no doubt connected to the biggest difference between them and their more dextrous relatives, in that they feed predominantly by scavenging for carrion. 

In common with other carrion feeders - vultures, for instance - Caracaras have evolved with bare heads and pointed beaks, and feet designed to walk along the ground rather than grasp & hold prey. The Yellow Headed Caracara eats anything from decaying crocodiles and other amphibians through to snails and the smallest of insects. As a species, it often scours the territory in large groups which natively fly together from one feeding ground to the other. However, all is not sweetness and light amongst these scavenging groups, for once the birds have discovered a good feeding site such as the carcass of a cow, they will become dominant and aggressive towards each other, and have even been known to force the food from another bird's gullet.

Caracaras are also known as the Tick Bird, as they enjoy resting on the backs of grazing cattle and removing ticks and parasites from the backs of the bovines, even on some occasions feeding on open wounds by pulling at the flesh.

Unlike true falcons, the Caracara builds its own nest out of twigs and vegetation rather than inhabiting a ‘scrape’ on the side of a mountain or rocky outcrop. The nests are usually at the topmost part of a high tree, with a particular favorite being the top of Palm trees. Two eggs are usually laid each year and are incubated for approx. 4 weeks. The young are ready to fledge once they are about 40 days old. This tends to be at the beginning of the rainy season when food is plenty and readily available.

The Caracara is the national emblem of Mexico and is a bird which has adapted readily to urban areas which, after the American Black Vulture,is the most easily seen bird of prey in Latin American cities.

Our plan is to have our new additions take part in our flying demonstrations, to compare their natural intelligence and carrion tendencies with the lifestyles of other birds at the centre - an interesting and often amusing site. Why not pop in and meet them next time you are passing?

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Down in the garden, something stirred...

This week saw great excitement at S.O.S. when a team of Barclays Bank volunteer management & staff arrived at the Sanctuary to install a special Sensory Garden, which they had kindly agreed to sponsor.

Among the visitors we welcome to the Centre throughout the year are many disadvantaged children & young adults who are brought along by their carers to see the beautiful owls and other birds of prey in their aviaries and in flight during the demonstrations that we give during the summer months.

However, in order to enhance the visits of these youngsters we thought it would be a good idea to develop part of the centre as an additional experience to widen the scope & enjoyment of their visit. Transforming the centre forecourt of the Centre as a Sensory Garden seemed to be an idea with prospects and with this in mind, our fundraiser-in-chief, the redoubtable Maz, approached a number of corporations to see if they would be interested in funding the project.

Before & after - what a difference a day makes!

To their great credit, Barclays Bank gave us an almost immediate 'thumbs up' and after an exploratory visit, returned on the big day with all the equipment necessary to install the garden, ably aided and abetted by a group of about 20 of their staff who had volunteered to graft on our behalf.

The transformation was remarkable, not least because the Barclays crew were able to declare 'mission accomplished' within the space of a day.

A sheltered garden seat amongst the flower beds

The Sensory Garden was designed by Barclays to stimulate the 5 body senses - touch, smell, sight, taste and hearing. To do this they incorporated as many colours, sounds and textures into the fabric of the garden as possible. Adding colour was the easy bit, as they used a great variety of plants to vibrant, multi-hued effect. To stimulate hearing, the garden benefits from having an array of windchimes within the trees and the sound of the water feature which was installed, bringing the trickling sound of a stream to the area. To stimulate taste and smell, a mixture of herbs and plants like lemongrass, mint and a curry plant (which leaves a distinctive smell of curry when touched) were added to the blooms Visitors are guided towards the bark of the trees, rippling water and some of the sturdier plants & leaves to satisfy the tactile senses.

The water feature - fountain and shale

As you will see from the pictures, the end result is a beautiful garden which has added an extra dimension to the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary and one that invites young and old alike to wander through it and admire the tranquility and beauty it provides. We are sure it will provide a rewarding experience for all visitors, especially those who are disadvantaged by lack of sight, hearing and other faculties, and we'd like to say a very big THANK YOU to Barclays Bank and their team of volunteers for their generosity and hard work in providing and building the garden.

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Grey Partridge Conservation

For a few years now, alongside Owls & Red Squirrels our manager Andy Hulme has been concentrating on a third conservation project involving a small game bird, the Grey Partridge.

These birds were once a common sight in in East Anglia, traditionally found on the arable lands of the region. However, like so many wildlife species, their favoured habitat of uncultivated field margins were ploughed into the ground and set-aside areas disappeared. As a result Grey Partridges have had difficulty finding suitable environments to provide their preferred diet of seeds, grasses, insects and the all-important insect larvae which provide the correct nutrition for their young.

But the tide is turning. With the help of conservation groups, sympathetic farmers and the special incentives provided for land owners, the type of habitat favoured by Grey Partridge is being allowed to flourish and a depleted UK population of only 75,000 breeding pairs is on the rise once again.

Andy has enabled us to play our part by using the large enclosure where our colony of Red Squirrels resides, to breed Grey Partridge for release. These are periodically set free in coveys of about 15 birds of both sexes onto managed land in the local vicinity - usually field margins between 4 and 6 meters wide. This habitat provides plenty of suitable nesting sites and the required abundance of insect life and a good variation of leaves & seeds on which they can forage.

Once back on the land, Grey Partridge form pairs by the end of February and start seeking out suitable nesting sites - they prefer free-draining soil on a south-facing slope with good cover provided by vegetation such as short tussocky grass and crops. Eggs hatch in late Spring and notably, the chicks immediately start the process of hunting for insect life using and instinctive natural pecking method which is extremely strong in the species from the time they hatch.

Our Coveys of Grey Partridge are quite happy co-habiting with our Red Squirrels prior to their release

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A Smaller Mum...

The entrance path to the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary is a busy one, host to the daily comings and goings of both staff and the increasing number of visitors we see as summer approaches. Alongside this is a small seating area where the staff take a breather and behind this - quite oblivious to the hustle & bustle of the nearby goings on - is where a robin has chosen to raise her brood of six young chicks! 

Ma Robin was first spotted sitting motionless on her nest in the open-fronted birdbox, placed there more in hope than expectation by staff members Anna and Andrew and who have kept a watchful & protective eye on her ever since. Now the young birds are nearly ready to fledge as they have most of their feathers, but their bright yellow ' gapes' can easily still be seen, even from a distance. 

The 'gape' is an important part of a garden bird chick, as the larger they can open their beak, the more food the mother can pop into it! Feeding time is a frenzy of activity when Mum returns with food, each chick competing to receive as much as possible from the parent by opening their beaks wide to display their hunger. Usually the diligent parents make sure there's enough to go round. Robins primarily feed on worms and insects and likes nothing better than following a gardner, waiting for the earth to be turned to reveal a favorite treat. In the wild, Robins have been been witnessed following around large animals for much the same reason - even Wild Boar as they root around turning leaf litter and earth!

Male and female Robins look very similar and at first glance look exactly the same - it can take an ornithological expert to determine the difference! Both sexes are extremely territorial and will defend their feeding sites vigorously. By Christmas many will already have paired, but they spend little time together, merely 'getting along'. They remain with one another until the Autumn moult, they become very scarce and not often heard. Robins favour open fronted nest boxes or holes in trees or garden walls. Unfortunately the Robin has a short life expectancy of only just over a year.

The Robin is a well-known bird to anyone who spends time in the garden and this little brown bird with its bright red breast is familiar to even the youngest child as they recognise them as the birds most often seen on Christmas cards. The association with Christmas has many origins. Legend has it that when Jesus was dying on the cross the Robin - then simply brown in colour - flew to his side and sang into his ear in order to comfort him in his pain: as he did so, the blood from his wounds stained the Robin's breast. However, the association of the Robin with Christmas more probably arises from the fact that postmen in Victorian Britain wore red uniforms and were nicknamed "Robins"; the robin featured on the Christmas card is an emblem of the postman delivering the card. 

Robins are also associated with Christmastime because that's the time of year when young robins are amongst the most vociferous of garden birds as they defend their breeding and nesting territories. In some cities the Robin can be heard singing right through the night and is often mistaken for the Nightingale.

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Super Mum does it again

Snowdrop has laid eggs in the same spot for the last 6 or 7 years...

With so many baby birds growing up around the centre at this time, we thought you may like to know that our 'Supermum' Snowy Owl, Snowdrop, is once again sitting on a clutch of six eggs. To date, this formidable matriach has managed to hatch well over 30 chicks here it Stonham - it seems that the chilly winds of the Mid Suffolk flatlands are to her liking!

Last year Snowdrop raised five babies, with only one egg of the clutch failing to hatch as it proved infertile. Infertility is something that happens on a regular basis with breeding birds of prey and we can determine whether an egg is fertile or not by a process called 'Candling'. This means holding the egg close to a light source such as a torch or (as in medieval times) a candle, which enables you to see ‘through’ the egg - if you can see an embryo developing inside, this is confirmation that there is a chick growing inside.

Snowdrop will be sitting on her ‘scrape’ - the rudimentary nest she scrapes from the ground in her aviary - for approx four weeks. A day or so before the eggs are due to hatch we will take them from the scrape, label them carefully and place them in an incubator, where they will hatch in the order that she has layed them, each usually a day or two apart.

(We do this because Snowdrop has a condition called haemoproteus, which is a form of bird malaria. It is a condition passed from bird to bird via the saliva, so in order to protect the clutch we have to prevent the mother feeding the young - which is why we remove them to the incubator for the last stages of hatching.)

Once hatched the chicks remain in the incubator for a few days, at which point we begin a process called 'imprinting': contrary to popular perception, owls have relatively small brains and so, as the falconers begin to feed the youngsters by hand, they take on the guise of ‘mum’ and so are ‘imprinted’ to the human form as the food source and, if you like, ‘next of kin’. We will keep you posted as to the progress of the chick.

This is our ‘Fetlar’ as a youngster - one of Snowdrop’s first progeny some years ago

Snowy owls come from extremely cold climates and can withstand extraordinarily inclement weather conditions - such as you might find in the Arctic Tundra, where temperatures can drop to -40ºC - which other birds find intolerable. Snowies nest on small outcrops of grassy tussock and blend in perfectly with the surrounding area. The female is always larger of the sexes and has more black speckling on her back, which helps her camouflage herself and her nest from predators.

Snowy Owls are diurnal hunters, which means they hunt their prey at sunrise and sunset. They like to hunt from perches, adopting a sit-and-wait routine, feeding on most ground dwelling mammals such as lemmings and voles.

Although not frequent visitors to the UK, a few pairs have nested on the island of Fetlar, in the Shetlands.

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More new arrivals...

This week S.O.S warmly welcomed Tiny, our new male Burrowing Owl, to the Sanctuary.

Tiny has been brought in as a long-awaited companion for Titch, our female Burrowing Owl, who has been with us since early last year (for more information on Titch, click here). Raised locally by a private breeder, young Tiny is Suffolk born and bred and comes from the same home as Titch and also Baloo, our Indian Eagle Owl. In our efforts to provided the best surrounding for the owls in our charge, wherever possible we like to keep them in pairs and so we hope that Tiny and Titch prove to be a perfect pairing!

Burrowing Owls in their natural habitat... and Titch as a youngster

The Burrowing Owl is a small owl with with a round face, no ear tufts and what look like disproportionately long legs. It is a species normally found across north and south America and whose favourite habitat is open landscapes and deserts with areas with low vegetation, where they roost in burrows. Though often active during the day, Burrowing Owls do most of their hunting between dusk until dawn, feeding on a wide variety of prey and changing food habits according to location and time of year. Beetles and grasshoppers form a large part of their diet, supplemented by small mammals like mice, rats, gophers, and ground squirrels. Burrowing Owl live up to 9 years in the wild.

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Following on from our previous blog about some of the other new arrivals at Stonham this Spring (see "New Arrivals" and "First Lady, Second Generation") we’ve now come up with a suitable name for one of our baby European Eagle Owls. We thought it best to call at least one by a name that was linked to his mother's, and as Rheia is the name of a Greek goddess, our choice is Hades because, as you can see from the accompanying pictures, he is indeed one hell of an owlet!

Hades looks like a bundle of fun now - but his sheer size as a youngster and strong talons illustrate that he will soon be a quantity to be reckoned with!

Now with a few weeks under his belt, along with our new Malaysian Wood Owl Bali, Hades has moved from his first home - the rudimentary but well protected floor of our falconer's hut, where they have both spent the last 5 weeks happily crashing into everything in their path - into a crèche aviary.

Hades & Bali together in the crèche aviary, where they are beginning to fledge

This provides a secure space for young owls to stay during the day, where they can adapt to the outside world, the climate and the enquiring scrutiny of visitors at S.O.S; and also stretch their wings and fledge as they grow their all-important flight feathers through. At night, whilst the evenings are still chilly, they are brought back indoors but once old enough, they will take up residence in their own full size aviaries at S.O.S!

As always, we'll keep you posted on their progress.

Andrew Farrow

Owl Pellets ... & Discovery Days

S.O.S. is pleased to announce the launch of its Owl Pellet Discovery Days, the first of which is next week on May 24th.

During the morning, youngsters can come along to the Suffolk owl Sanctuary, when they will be given a guided tour of the Centre, then do a spot of Owl supervised pellet dissection & detection, and finally be able to watch our 12.30 flying display. Each participant will be given a Pellet Discovery Kit comprising a large owl pellet, tweezers, prod, magnifying glass and information all about owls, their pellets and what you are likely to find inside them. The cost for each activity session, including all the above, is £6.50 per participant.

What is an Owl Pellet? Well, it's what is formed after an owl has eaten its prey (such as small mice and voles) and comprises the bits that cannot be digested, like bones, teeth, fur etc. The owl coughs out these bits in pellet form about six to eight hours after it has eaten and usually produces two every twenty four hours. The pellet must be regurgitated before the owl can feed again.

If you can't make it to the Sanctuary at Stonham Barns, then you may think about doing some detective work in the countryside by looking for owl pellets you can dissect for yourself. But before you start, a warning: along with other birds, owl nests & roosts are protected by law and it is illegal to remove eggs or young from them, or interfere with them or their nests & roosts in any way. So, if you do go looking pellets, please remember to leave anything that looks like a nest well alone.

Now, onto the search, and to begin with a little detective work may be required to discover if you have owls in your area. Firstly, look for the signs - perhaps take a quiet walk around the local park or recreation ground (but ensure an adult always knows where you are) and see if you can find where the owls roost or nest. Remember that a source of prey for the owls must be close by, as owls will only roost in an area where there is an abundance of small mammals to feed on. We suggest asking the park keeper or wildlife ranger if they know of any place where owl pellets may be safely collected.

Here are a few pointers. Barn Owls like to roost in old farm buildings or hollow, often derelict trees. Look on the side of the building or tree for white streaks, which are the tell-tale signs of owl droppings and usually indicate that they use the roost regularly. Now look below the roost site for small grey or black packages - these are the pellets. Barn Owl pellets are usually about 35mm - 65mm (1.5" - 2.5") in length, and are very smooth and round in shape. Should you be lucky enough to find one pellet at the site, then it is likely you will have found a regular supply BUT please remember to respect the owls and indeed the owner of the barn.

Tawny Owls, which are the commonest of owl species to be found in Britain, are as happy living in country woodlands as they are in wooded areas near the hustle and bustle of towns, so whichever, you are most likely to have a Tawny Owl around if you are near an area with plenty of trees. Tawny Owls like to roost during the day close to the trunk of a tall mature trees or conifers, but they do not have singular favoured roosts and use any suitable perch to sit on and regurgitate their pellets. It's worth remembering that Tawnies usually produce their pellets usually while out hunting so although a common bird, their pellets can be hard to find. It's worth asking local people if they have ever found pellets in their vicinity to speed up your search.

Tawny Owl pellets are much more furry than Barn Owl pellets and tend to taper off at one end. They measure about 25mm - 45mm (1' - 2") in length. They seem much less solid than the Barn Owl pellets and the contents can be seen easily within the mass.

Little Owls are our smallest owl and can often easily be seen during the day and at dusk. They like old dense hedgerows, trees in parkland and dead trees - their favorite roosts are in ancient Oak and Ash trees and they also like Willow pollards. As you would expect, the pellets are small, only 16mm-35mm (.75" - 1.25") long and are elongated with a distinct point at one end. They weigh very little, may feel spongy if pressed and are likely to contain insect remains such as wing cases. The pellets are produced out in the open while hunting, and so are likely to be stumbled on accidently.

Finally, Short and Long Eared Owls are rarely seen in the UK, and their pellets more difficult to find. The Short Eared Owl is best seen in winter months, when it hunts on salt marshes close to the mouth of estuaries and salt flats and the pellets are often deposited on the hard-to-get-at the grassy banks of a sea walls and estuary edges. Meanwhile the timid and well-disguised Long Eared Owl prefers to roost in dense thorny hedges, scrub areas such as tall bramble bushes on farmland and close to the edges of woodlands. Their roost sites can be used by up to ten birds, year after year, which means that lots of pellets are likely to build up over a period of time all in one place - a real find if you come across them!

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Welcome Back, The Hobby

In the bird world, now is the time of year when we start welcoming summer visitors back to these shores. Garden birds like Swifts, House Martins and Swallows have already put in an appearance, and they have been closely by the Hobby, a small bird of prey which, year upon year, follows the migration of all these species as they work their way back to the UK from Africa.

Migration is the process by which species of animals move from one area to another for the reason of reproduction. Longer days and warmer weather give birds a better chance of success rate when raising young and so the migration pattern is from the south to the north in our summer, and the reverse in winter.

Hence Hobbies usually arrive late April and leave again just before the start of September. This year, one individual was recorded locally to SOS, near Needham Market in Suffolk, as early as April 13th. They are not an overly-common visitor to these shores, but in recent years numbers have been on an increase, particularly in the south of England.

The Hobby is only a very small falcon of a size similar to our native Kestrel, though it has a shorter tail and distinct, 'sickle’-shaped wings which enable it to do fantastic aerobatic stunts as its chases its prey. The favoured diet of Hobbies is large flying insects such as dragonflies and the bigger moths, which they will eat while still on the wing - they can often be seen chasing moths just before dark. Hobbies are also the only raptor capable of chasing and catching the speedy Swift in flight.

In order to catch prey, Hobbies will usually cruise out of sight at high altitude, waiting for the right moment to close their wings and plummet to earth at speeds which can be in excess of 100mph, only opening their wings again when they are just a few feet of the ground.

Photo © Claude Ruchet at www.ruchet.com

Hobbies inhabit areas like heathland, near to the edge of woodlands, and around farmland. If you have a disused crow or rook nest locally, look out there too as Hobbies favour their abandoned nests - though as a result, a few chicks can be lost to these corvids before they get the chance to make the journey back to Africa.

As a rule the female Hobby will lay 3 eggs, which hatch in about 4 weeks: the chicks will take 4-5 weeks to fully fledge and then another 4-6 weeks to become completely independent. Young Hobbies learn to catch prey by first catching slow-flying beetles, then progressing to the faster species as they become more practised at the art.

The name “Hobby” is said to come from the Old Dutch “Hobben” - which means to move up and down or side to side quickly - which describes the way the bird flies to catch its prey.

The Latin name for the Hobby is Falco Subbuteo - you may recognise this name from the tabletop football game. This is because the inventor of Subbuteo was a Peter Adolph, who in his spare time was a keen bird watcher and the Hobby was his favourite bird. When applying for the patent, he wanted to register the game as ‘The Hobby’: this was turned down but the name of ‘ Subbuteo’ proved quite acceptable to the powers that be and which explains why the game carries crests and emblems which feature the head of the falcon on most versions produced today.

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