S.O.S. meets Sir David Attenborough

This week we were invited to attend the official opening of Abberton Reservoir in Essex.

This  event marked the recent expansion of the capacity of the reservoir from 26 billion to 41billion litres of water in order to secure adequate water supplies for one and a half million Essex residents. This development has gone hand in hand with an environmental project ensuring that the reservoir retains and extends its valuable habitat for the whole spectrum of wildlife and water fowl in particular.

The new facility offers a great place to view the some 40,000
ducks, geese & swans that visit the reservoir every year

Naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough was in attendance to officially open the new facility with a celebration at the Visitor Centre run in partnership with the Essex Wildlife Trust and our falconer Dean Winham joined the activities with Keo the Lanner Falcon and Spirit the Barn Owl.
The birds were greatly admired by the assembled naturalists and conservationists and flew the flag for ecologically intelligent local development.

The reservoir is important to wildlife and wildfowl and holds some of the highest environmental designations including as a Sight of Significant Scientific Interest. Up to 40,000 ducks, swans and geese visit every year - the top six species being Wigeon, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Coot and Black Headed Gull.  The site is important for dabbling ducks such as Shoveler and Teal and an enhancement project has increased the amount of shallow water habitat crucial for these birds and waders which also frequent the site.

Throughout this project, started in 2010, the Essex Wildlife Trust has worked closely with Essex & Suffolk Water to ensure that essential habitats that support wildlife were fully understood before development work commenced. Contractors were then able to take responsibility for protecting the interests of all the species native to the site and for ensuring that final habitats increased in both size and quality.

The improved and expanded site is proof perfect that building projects necessary for supporting the ever expanding human population can be completed with environmental empathy and sensitivity. The reservoir is open to the public every day and offers incredible bird and butterfly watching opportunities as well as stunning views,walks and picnic spots. Find out more about Abberton Reservoir here

S.O.S. meets Sir David Attenborough

This week we were invited to attend the official opening of Abberton Reservoir in Essex.

This event marked the recent expansion of the capacity of the reservoir from 26 billion to 41billion litres of water in order to secure adequate water supplies for one and a half million Essex residents. This development has gone hand in hand with an environmental project ensuring that the reservoir retains and extends its valuable habitat for the whole spectrum of wildlife and water fowl in particular.

The new facility offers a great place to view the some 40,000 ducks, geese & swans that visit the reservoir every year

Naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough was in attendance to officially open the new facility with a celebration at the Visitor Centre run in partnership with the Essex Wildlife Trust and our falconer Dean Winham joined the activities with Keo the Lanner Falcon and Spirit the Barn Owl.
The birds were greatly admired by the assembled naturalists and conservationists and flew the flag for ecologically intelligent local development.

The reservoir is important to wildlife and wildfowl and holds some of the highest environmental designations including as a Sight of Significant Scientific Interest. Up to 40,000 ducks, swans and geese visit every year - the top six species being Wigeon, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Coot and Black Headed Gull. The site is important for dabbling ducks such as Shoveler and Teal and an enhancement project has increased the amount of shallow water habitat crucial for these birds and waders which also frequent the site.

Throughout this project, started in 2010, the Essex Wildlife Trust has worked closely with Essex & Suffolk Water to ensure that essential habitats that support wildlife were fully understood before development work commenced. Contractors were then able to take responsibility for protecting the interests of all the species native to the site and for ensuring that final habitats increased in both size and quality.

The improved and expanded site is proof perfect that building projects necessary for supporting the ever expanding human population can be completed with environmental empathy and sensitivity. The reservoir is open to the public every day and offers incredible bird and butterfly watching opportunities as well as stunning views,walks and picnic spots. Find out more about Abberton Reservoir here

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Outfoxed!

Last week, an emergency call was made to Suffolk Owl Sanctuary by a local resident because a fox was wreaking havoc in her garden!

The appearance of the fox in itself was not unusual, as the homeowner encouraged wildlife of all sorts into the natural environment that she had deliberately created on her land. What WAS unusual,however, was the distress the fox’s presence was causing other creatures in the garden - specifically, a family of Little Owls which had taken up residence in a hollow tree.

Two of the tiny Little Owlets

Little owls are by nature feisty creatures and will not shy away from an altercation with a predator but by the time the homeowner had responded to a commotion in the vicinity of the tree, the fox had already despatched the two adult owls who had been attempting to defend four youngsters they were raising. When our nature-lover found the four baby owlets exposed by the fox’s attempts to dig them out.

One of the youngsters is hand-fed by Maz as the others recuperate in the warmth of the incubator

Fearing that she might already be too late to save what was left of the owl family, she carefully removed the youngsters from danger and brought them in to the raptor hospital at the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary. After a thorough examination, all four owlets were found to be shocked but sound, with only one having sustained an injury to the back of the neck from the fox’s claws.

The quartet were settled into an intensive care incubator to warm up and recover from their ordeal and after some quiet recuperation time, their appetites were back with a vengeance! The quadruplets continued to thrive thanks to 2 hourly feeds and plenty of TLC from the falconry team and were soon out of intensive care.

At this point our colleague Maz stepped in and has taken the owlets home, where she was able to start giving them the continuous attention they will need until they have fledged properly and are ready for release - watch this space for further details.

The size of the diminutive little creatures is emphasised as they nestle in a small dish in preparation for being moved.  The one at the back was clawed by the fox, but we believe it stands a good chance of recuperating if cared for.

Outfoxed!

Last week, an emergency call was made to Suffolk Owl Sanctuary by a local resident because a fox was wreaking havoc in her garden!

The appearance of the fox in itself was not unusual, as the homeowner encouraged wildlife of all sorts into the natural environment that she had deliberately created on her land. What WAS unusual,however, was the distress the fox’s presence was causing other creatures in the garden - specifically, a family of Little Owls which had taken up residence in a hollow tree.

Two of the tiny Little Owlets

Little owls are by nature feisty creatures and will not shy away from an altercation with a predator but by the time the homeowner had responded to a commotion in the vicinity of the tree, the fox had already despatched the two adult owls who had been attempting to defend four youngsters they were raising. When our nature-lover found the four baby owlets exposed by the fox’s attempts to dig them out.

Fearing that she might already be too late to save what was left of the owl family, she carefully removed the youngsters from danger and brought them in to the raptor hospital at the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary. After a thorough examination, all four owlets were found to be shocked but sound, with only one having sustained an injury to the back of the neck from the fox’s claws.

The quartet were settled into an intensive care incubator to warm up and recover from their ordeal and after some quiet recuperation time, their appetites were back with a vengeance! The quadruplets continued to thrive thanks to 2 hourly feeds and plenty of TLC from the falconry team and were soon out of intensive care. 

One of the youngsters is hand-fed by Maz
as the others recuperate in the warmth of the incubator

At this point our colleague Maz stepped in and has taken the owlets home, where she was able to start giving them the continuous attention they will need until they have fledged properly and are ready for release - watch this space for further details.

The size of the diminutive little creatures is emphasised as they
nestle in a small dish in preparation for being moved. The one at the back was clawed by the fox, but we believe it stands a good chance of recuperating if cared for.

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It's a Small World

If proof was needed that the message of the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary extends beyond the shores of the U.K. then it was adequately provided this week.

A request for assistance was received from a resident of Transylvania who had unwittingly become host to a small owl which had entered her apartment through an open window. As we operate a worldwide online advice service, just for such eventualities, falconers were able to assist with immediate advice.

In the first instance, we recommended relieving the bird’s inevitable stress as soon was practicable.The rescuer was advised to place the owl into a well ventilated, covered cardboard box. This needed to be large enough to prevent the bird from further abrasive injury, but not so large that it had room to thrash about. In this case the owl seemed relatively quiet and inactive - a positive advantage for the rescuer, enabling transfer to the box, but a distinct worry in the context of the birds physical state.

Once the owl was quiet and secure, we asked for some photos in order to aid species identity and ascertain injuries. Due to the wonder of the internet, images arrived at the sanctuary instantly. The bird was then easily identifiable by its distinctive feather tufts, bright yellow eyes and brownish grey camouflaging plumage, as a Screech Owl. Close study of the photos suggested that the bird was a mature adult and uninjured, though probably shocked.

After a night spent recuperating in the quiet and darkness, the rescuer reported that the owl seemed feisty - a sure sign that it was able and ready to return to its native habitat. Our falconers advised that the owl should be released in the immediate vicinity of the apartment block. Although an urban area, this was the natural territory of this bird and, as Screech Owls are monogamous, it was likely to have a partner close by and may even have been rearing young.

The owl was duly released at dusk, and the short adventure for both bird and human came to a successful conclusion - one example of the truly international capacity of the advisory services offered by S.O.S.!

It's a Small World

If proof was needed that the message of the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary extends beyond the shores of the U.K. then it was adequately provided this week.

A request for assistance was received from a resident of Transylvania who had unwittingly become host to a small owl which had entered her apartment through an open window. As we operate a worldwide online advice service, just for such eventualities, falconers were able to assist with immediate advice.

In the first instance, we recommended relieving the bird’s inevitable stress as soon was practicable.The rescuer was advised to place the owl into a well ventilated, covered cardboard box. This needed to be large enough to prevent the bird from further abrasive injury, but not so large that it had room to thrash about. In this case the owl seemed relatively quiet and inactive - a positive advantage for the rescuer, enabling transfer to the box, but a distinct worry in the context of the birds physical state.

Once the owl was quiet and secure, we asked for some photos in order to aid species identity and ascertain injuries. Due to the wonder of the internet, images arrived at the sanctuary instantly. The bird was then easily identifiable by its distinctive feather tufts, bright yellow eyes and brownish grey camouflaging plumage, as a Screech Owl. Close study of the photos suggested that the bird was a mature adult and uninjured, though probably shocked.

After a night spent recuperating in the quiet and darkness, the rescuer reported that the owl seemed feisty - a sure sign that it was able and ready to return to its native habitat. Our falconers advised that the owl should be released in the immediate vicinity of the apartment block. Although an urban area, this was the natural territory of this bird and, as Screech Owls are monogamous, it was likely to have a partner close by and may even have been rearing young.

The owl was duly released at dusk, and the short adventure for both bird and human came to a successful conclusion - one example of the truly international capacity of the advisory services offered by S.O.S.!

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Passionate About Pellets

Suffolk Owl Sanctuary has developed a rich programme of outreach work with schools and offers a wide variety of educational resources to support classroom learning. Most popular with teachers of all age groups are owl pellets for use in dissection sessions. One such request came from a school in Yorkshire only last month, about which we had some typically positive feedback, complete with pictures!

Peter Riley is a former teacher and award winning author of science books for schoolchildren of all ages. He is well known in the academic world as a “science evangelist” who has always wanted people to know that “science is much more part of our world than we realise, It’s all around us all the time and if we can enjoy it, we will understand our world a lot better.”  

So, when his granddaughter and avid Harry Potter fan,Tabitha enthused about her latest science project - habitats - Peter saw an opportunity to bring some excitement to the classroom!

He asked the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary to help by despatching enough pellets to involve all of Tabitha’s class in a dissection session. By studying the contents of the fragmented pellets, pupils would be able to ascertain what owls had been eating and, thus, which small mammals were abundant in their habitat. The pellets were sterilised and foil wrapped before being sent out and were accompanied by photocopiable bone charts and record sheets for listing and drawing pellet contents.

Tabitha’s class used eyebrow tweezers and cocktail sticks to disassemble their pellets and the evidence gathered indicated that most owls had been feeding on mice, with one having eaten a shrew. The children were delighted to discover the shrew’s lower jaw bones “with its red-capped, crocodile like teeth!!”

Peter reports that the children were “totally engrossed and the teacher said it was one of the best lessons he had had for years!”

Passionate About Pellets

Suffolk Owl Sanctuary has developed a rich programme of outreach work with schools and offers a wide variety of educational resources to support classroom learning. Most popular with teachers of all age groups are owl pellets for use in dissection sessions. One such request came from a school in Yorkshire only last month, about which we had some typically positive feedback, complete with pictures!

Peter Riley is a former teacher and award winning author of science books for schoolchildren of all ages. He is well known in the academic world as a “science evangelist” who has always wanted people to know that “science is much more part of our world than we realise, It’s all around us all the time and if we can enjoy it, we will understand our world a lot better.”

So, when his granddaughter and avid Harry Potter fan,Tabitha enthused about her latest science project - habitats - Peter saw an opportunity to bring some excitement to the classroom!

He asked the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary to help by despatching enough pellets to involve all of Tabitha’s class in a dissection session. By studying the contents of the fragmented pellets, pupils would be able to ascertain what owls had been eating and, thus, which small mammals were abundant in their habitat. The pellets were sterilised and foil wrapped before being sent out and were accompanied by photocopiable bone charts and record sheets for listing and drawing pellet contents.

Tabitha’s class used eyebrow tweezers and cocktail sticks to disassemble their pellets and the evidence gathered indicated that most owls had been feeding on mice, with one having eaten a shrew. The children were delighted to discover the shrew’s lower jaw bones “with its red-capped, crocodile like teeth!!”

Peter reports that the children were “totally engrossed and the teacher said it was one of the best lessons he had had for years!”

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New Kits on the Block

2015 has not only seen an increase in bird numbers, but the sanctuary’s red squirrel colony has also expanded. During April three kits have been born to one of our eight adult red squirrels, after a gestation period of 38 days.

The young are very vulnerable when born, being deaf and blind and totally dependent on their mother. Within 21 days their bodies are covered with hair and their eyes and ears open after three or four weeks.

As usual there were no obvious signs in the enclosure that babies had been born until about 40 days later, when they are able to eat solid food. After that, they take trips out of the nest to find food, still returning to suckle from their mother until fully weaned at 8 to 10 weeks.

Typically, Red Squirrel ‘kits’ nestle together whilst in the dray*

Red squirrels that survive their first winter have a life expectancy of at least 3 years - in the wild, many live for up to 7 years; in captivity, up to 10.

The Sanctuary’s squirrels have plenty of room to roam and play, with three large enclosures connected by tree top level corridors. These allow plenty of room for individuals to “enjoy their own space” - red squirrels are solitary animals and their social organisation is based on dominance hierarchies within and between the sexes, so plenty of spacial independence is essential.

The sanctuary’s new editions will move on once they become mature; in order to maintain a healthy gene pool, young from this colony will be swapped for squirrels from other conservation projects or donated to one of the successful release schemes now established throughout the country, by conservation groups such as the Red Squirrel Survival Trust in Anglesey and the Wight Squirrel Project. Assisted by such schemes, the red squirrel continues to recover in population in specific areas of the U.K. - particularly in Scotland, the Isle of Anglesey and the Isle of Wight.

This correlates with the decrease in grey squirrel numbers, in turn accelerated by the increase in pine marten populations, the grey squirrel’s main predator.

* Image of Red Squirrel ‘kits’ from an unknown source - please contact us if you recognise it

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New Kits on the Block

2015 has not only seen an increase in bird numbers, but the sanctuary’s red squirrel colony has also expanded. During April three kits have been born to one of our eight adult red squirrels, after a gestation period of 38 days.

The young are very vulnerable when born, being deaf and blind and totally dependent on their mother. Within 21 days their bodies are covered with hair and their eyes and ears open after three or four weeks.

As usual there were no obvious signs in the enclosure that babies had been born until about 40 days later, when they are able to eat solid food. After that, they take trips out of the nest to find food, still returning to suckle from their mother until fully weaned at 8 to 10 weeks.

Typically, Red Squirrel ‘kits’ nestle together whilst in the dray*

Red squirrels that survive their first winter have a life expectancy of at least 3 years - in the wild, many live for up to 7 years; in captivity, up to 10.

The Sanctuary’s squirrels have plenty of room to roam and play, with three large enclosures connected by tree top level corridors. These allow plenty of room for individuals to “enjoy their own space” - red squirrels are solitary animals and their social organisation is based on dominance hierarchies within and between the sexes, so plenty of spacial independence is essential.

The sanctuary’s new editions will move on once they become mature; in order to maintain a healthy gene pool, young from this colony will be swapped for squirrels from other conservation projects or donated to one of the successful release schemes now established throughout the country, by conservation groups such as the Red Squirrel Survival Trust in Anglesey and the Wight Squirrel Project. Assisted by such schemes, the red squirrel continues to recover in population in specific areas of the U.K. - particularly in Scotland, the Isle of Anglesey and the Isle of Wight.

This correlates with the decrease in grey squirrel numbers, in turn accelerated by the increase in pine marten populations, the grey squirrel’s main predator.

* Image of Red Squirrel ‘kits’ from an unknown source - please contact us if you recognise it

Schools Out!

Always mindful that the next generation will one day become the guardians of the countryside, Suffolk Owl Sanctuary is always keen to take part in the regional Schools Farm and Country Fair, which is held locally.

2015 marked the 12th. year that this event has been organised by the regional agricultural association, engaging schoolchildren and their teachers in all aspects of farming, food production, conservation and the countryside.

Fascinated youngsters take in the owlish sights at the Schools Farm Fair
Image courtesy East Anglian Daily Times

Suffolk Owl Sanctuary’s falconers, owls and other birds of prey played host to 4,000 children aged between 7 and 9 years of age during the course of the day!

This enormous fair is now firmly established as the premier schools event in our farming county where pupils can meet farmers and conservation and countryside experts to learn about all aspects of their rural environment.

Each school is paired with a farmer steward who acts as their guide and enabler for the day, talking them through the various activities and explaining exhibits.

Suffolk Owl Sanctuary staff introduced the children to Spirit the Barn Owl and Dodge the Kestrel, and explained the importance of wild birds of prey as an indicator of the state of their surrounding habitat and the wider environment.

Teachers attention was drawn to the fantastic facilities on offer to school groups on a trip to the owl sanctuary and the variety of S.O.S. resources and activities which are available to support the curriculum, including owl pellets for dissection, class games, craft projects and worksheets.

The Sanctuary’s junior newsletter, the “Stonham Screecher” was also popular with children and adults alike. (You can download a free copy of The Screecher here.) The children were also able to witness a demonstration of falconry in the show’s main ring as well as sheep shearing, gun dogs and ferret racing.

This event afforded the Sanctuary another valuable opportunity to meet local schoolchildren and inspire their interest in owls and conservation - reinforcing the messages that, over the course of the last year, have been delivered by S.O.S. to a record 2,300 pupils throughout Suffolk on school visits.

A Lasting Legacy

To mark its 150th anniversary in 2014, the Yorkshire Building Society set up a Lasting Legacy Fund and invited fifteen charities to apply for a share of a special fund to assist them in supporting their community and leave a “lasting legacy”. More than six hundred charities applied by submitting an application for a specific project which would have a “tangible outcome and lasting benefit to a community within the U.K.”

Suffolk Owl Sanctuary submitted its proposal for the development of a Sensory Garden within the Sanctuary grounds to significantly improve the visitor experience for disabled, deaf and blind visitors. Not only a quiet reflective place to sit, the garden would offer wheelchair accessible picnic tables, a delicate water feature, atmospheric wind chimes, tactile wooden seating and highly scented, butterfly friendly borders.

Andy received the award on behalf of S.O.S. on the new carved seats in ‘Teachers Corner’

The YBS Lasting Legacy Committee chose a shortlist of thirty charities and invited colleagues, customers and members of the public to vote for the three projects that they felt most worthy of a substantial donation. Suffolk Owl Sanctuary was a popular choice with voters and an award was granted towards our project in April.

YBS Corporate Responsibility Manager, Pauline Giroux commented “We are delighted to be able to support these fifteen projects and we are looking forward to seeing the benefits they will bring.To be chosen from over 600 charity projects shows that they have really resonated with our colleagues and members of the public and will deliver a tangible benefit to their local communities.”

A Lasting Legacy

To mark its 150th anniversary in 2014, the Yorkshire Building Society set up a Lasting Legacy Fund and invited fifteen charities to apply for a share of a special fund to assist them in supporting their community and leave a “lasting legacy”. More than six hundred charities applied by submitting an application for a specific project which would have a “tangible outcome and lasting benefit to a community within the U.K.”

Suffolk Owl Sanctuary submitted its proposal for the development of a Sensory Garden within the Sanctuary grounds to significantly improve the visitor experience for disabled, deaf and blind visitors. Not only a quiet reflective place to sit, the garden would offer wheelchair accessible picnic tables, a delicate water feature, atmospheric wind chimes, tactile wooden seating and highly scented, butterfly friendly borders.

Andy received the award on behalf of S.O.S. on the new carved seats in ‘Teachers Corner’

The YBS Lasting Legacy Committee chose a shortlist of thirty charities and invited colleagues, customers and members of the public to vote for the three projects that they felt most worthy of a substantial donation. Suffolk Owl Sanctuary was a popular choice with voters and an award was granted towards our project in April.

YBS Corporate Responsibility Manager, Pauline Giroux commented “We are delighted to be able to support these fifteen projects and we are looking forward to seeing the benefits they will bring.To be chosen from over 600 charity projects shows that they have really resonated with our colleagues and members of the public and will deliver a tangible benefit to their local communities.”

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Birds on Film

Volunteer Mary and Falconer Dean ‘act naturally’ for the camera

A central element of the S.O.S. “See Hear” project will be the creation of a DVD explaining the work of the sanctuary, its conservation projects and introducing many of the resident bird species.

This resource will be used both as an educational tool by the Sanctuary and offered as a valuable support resource for classroom learning in schools. The script of the DVD will also be subtitled to warrant it useful to those working with or teaching the deaf.

To this end, the sanctuary has been the subject of filming by Stu McOmie, a local cinematographer for the last few months. Stu has worked closely with the falconers to gain the access to the owls and other birds of prey necessary to complete his film and has immersed himself in every element of the Sanctuary’s work routine to produce some intimate footage of “behind the scenes” procedures.

All areas of the sanctuary’s work have been captured on film for posterity from the excitement of the audience during a flying display to the earnest concentration of a novice participant in a falconry course, from the reflections of a young and enthusiastic volunteer to the endeavours of the highly experienced handlers of the Wild Owl Nest Box Project.

The completion of the film will not only produce a valuable educational tool, but also a rich archive of the sanctuary’s development for the benefit of future generations.

Fundraising continues apace to enable Stu to complete his work within the next few months.

Birds on Film

A central element of the S.O.S. “See Hear” project will be the creation of a DVD explaining the work of the sanctuary, its conservation projects and introducing many of the resident bird species.

Volunteer Mary and Falconer Dean ‘act naturally’ for the camera

This resource will be used both as an educational tool by the Sanctuary and offered as a valuable support resource for classroom learning in schools. The script of the DVD will also be subtitled to warrant it useful to those working with or teaching the deaf.

To this end, the sanctuary has been the subject of filming by Stu McOmie, a local cinematographer for the last few months. Stu has worked closely with the falconers to gain the access to the owls and other birds of prey necessary to complete his film and has immersed himself in every element of the Sanctuary’s work routine to produce some intimate footage of “behind the scenes” procedures.

All areas of the sanctuary’s work have been captured on film for posterity from the excitement of the audience during a flying display to the earnest concentration of a novice participant in a falconry course, from the reflections of a young and enthusiastic volunteer to the endeavours of the highly experienced handlers of the Wild Owl Nest Box Project.

The completion of the film will not only produce a valuable educational tool, but also a rich archive of the sanctuary’s development for the benefit of future generations.

Fundraising continues apace to enable Stu to complete his work within the next few months.

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Access All Areas

As our supporters will know, Suffolk Owl Sanctuary’s central mission statement is one of “conservation, rehabilitation and education”.

Staff are continually working hard to ensure the educational remit is enhanced and complemented by the evolving recreational facilities at the Sanctuary and that these are accessible to all visitors. Over the winter months, chief fundraiser, Maz Robinson has been working hard to raise funds to improve the design and content of the site to better meet the needs of disabled, deaf, hearing impaired, blind and sight impaired visitors.This has resulted in the inception of the S.O.S. “See Hear” project, through which we aim to elevate the visitor experience to the gold standard through improved communication and support and a variety of new innovations.

Phase One of the project has seen fundamental access around the whole Sanctuary improved for buggy and wheelchair users with the completion of level, tarmac paths - these extend into the new seating enclosure at the flying ground which also has improved wheelchair space and carer seating. A new bird hide has been built in the Woodland Walk with a wheelchair specific viewing hatch and entry ramp. Braille information boards have been installed around the aviaries and the help of a BSL signing interpreter has been enlisted to aid communication of the falconers’ flying display commentaries. Resources have also been developed in the Sensory Garden - the pretty, relaxing area has been enhanced with a delicate water feature, subtle wind chimes and unique wooden sculpted seating particularly suited to class gatherings and storytelling.

For younger visitors, a new play area has been built comprising of custom made wheelchair friendly equipment with increased capacity for supported play, with a soft safe surface beneath.Sponsorship for the completion of the play area was generously provided by ABC Charitable Trust, Paul Bush Foundation Trust, Branch Out,Grey Court Trust, Moondance Foundation, People’s Postcode Lottery, Pets at Home, David & Claudia Harding, Hamilton Wallace Trust, the Grocer’s Charity, the Ivo Trust, Warburtons, Rowan Bentall, and the Roger Vere Foundation. We are extremely grateful for all their contributions.

Fundraising is now ongoing to finance Phase Two of the See Hear project. This will hopefully include a large outdoor touchscreen information point with subtitled images, a hand held or smart phone enabled audio guide of the Sanctuary and an S.O.S. subtitled DVD which will be freely available to teachers and those working with the deaf.

Our next Signing Day for the Deaf will be held on Sunday August 2nd

Access All Areas

As our supporters will know, Suffolk Owl Sanctuary’s central mission statement is one of “conservation, rehabilitation and education”.

Staff are continually working hard to ensure the educational remit is enhanced and complemented by the evolving recreational facilities at the Sanctuary and that these are accessible to all visitors. Over the winter months, chief fundraiser, Maz Robinson has been working hard to raise funds to improve the design and content of the site to better meet the needs of disabled, deaf, hearing impaired, blind and sight impaired visitors.This has resulted in the inception of the S.O.S. “See Hear” project, through which we aim to elevate the visitor experience to the gold standard through improved communication and support and a variety of new innovations.

Phase One of the project has seen fundamental access around the whole Sanctuary improved for buggy and wheelchair users with the completion of level, tarmac paths - these extend into the new seating enclosure at the flying ground which also has improved wheelchair space and carer seating. A new bird hide has been built in the Woodland Walk with a wheelchair specific viewing hatch and entry ramp. Braille information boards have been installed around the aviaries and the help of a BSL signing interpreter has been enlisted to aid communication of the falconers’ flying display commentaries. Resources have also been developed in the Sensory Garden - the pretty, relaxing area has been enhanced with a delicate water feature, subtle wind chimes and unique wooden sculpted seating particularly suited to class gatherings and storytelling.

For younger visitors, a new play area has been built comprising of custom made wheelchair friendly equipment with increased capacity for supported play, with a soft safe surface beneath.Sponsorship for the completion of the play area was generously provided by ABC Charitable Trust, Paul Bush Foundation Trust, Branch Out,Grey Court Trust, Moondance Foundation, People’s Postcode Lottery, Pets at Home, David & Claudia Harding, Hamilton Wallace Trust, the Grocer’s Charity, the Ivo Trust, Warburtons, Rowan Bentall, and the Roger Vere Foundation. We are extremely grateful for all their contributions.

Fundraising is now ongoing to finance Phase Two of the See Hear project. This will hopefully include a large outdoor touchscreen information point with subtitled images, a hand held or smart phone enabled audio guide of the Sanctuary and an S.O.S. subtitled DVD which will be freely available to teachers and those working with the deaf.

Our next Signing Day for the Deaf will be held on Sunday August 2nd

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"H" Is For Hawk

The Sanctuary was thrust in front of the camera last month when the B.B.C. Countryfile team, complete with presenter Ellie Harrison arrived to gather some footage in support of a topical story. 

That story was of author Helen McDonald’s struggle to come to terms with the death of her father and the training of her Goshawk, Mabel, which provided a healing, cathartic outlet for her grief.

Helen spent a day at the Sanctuary with Ellie and the falconers filming some environmental context for her story, which culminated in her flying a Goshawk owned by Head Falconer, Matt Lott.

Ellie watches on as Helen takes a Goshawk on the glove

This was the first time that Helen had flown a hawk since the death of her beloved Mabel and the expression on her face suggested that it is one flight that she will not forget!

Local school children were able to share the day with Ellie and Helen and after marvelling at Willow the Harris Hawk in flight, took part in a lively question and answer session with General Manager, Andy Hulme.

Helen’s award-winning book “H for Hawk” has been acclaimed as one of the most emotive and evocative reads of recent years: watching the genuine response of the children to these awe inspiring birds proved a wonderful affirmation of the co-existence of man and nature.

In the words of Laura Beatty - one of H for Hawk’s many reviewers, “…..it deepens what we have always known; that we live side by side with each other, as we do with the creatures around us”

Now You See It...

Over the last 20 years, our trucks have chugged unobtrusively about their business. They have been been invaluable for ferrying us to local schools to spread the conservation message, transporting display equipment to country fairs to raise our profile and as a workhorse enabling access to the remote locations of our Wild Owl Nest Box project sites.

But, it was decided that our long-standing trusty truck should be ignored no longer and that its potential as a piece of travelling artwork should be utilised!

So a local company were engaged to transform the truck from the mundane to the spectacular!
The new livery features images of the sanctuary’s own birds and red squirrels and the eye-catching design turns heads wherever it travels, instantly recognisable to the public and schoolchildren on its progress throughout the region.

Boris the Buzzard grounded

Today we had a Common Buzzard brought into us by a local veterinary for post-operative care rehabilitation. 

The raptor was found with a smashed-up wing by a chap out walking his dog, who thoughtfully took it in to his local vet for treatment. They carefully removed the primary feathers, expertly operated to pin the wing and withdrew any pieces of fragmented bone and then retained it at their practice for a few days to see if the bird - by this time named "Boris" - would survive the trauma. 

Boris had his primary feathers removed for the wing operation and currently is cosseted in a bright pink bandage

Thankfully the buzzard appears to be bearing up well, so we have now taken charge as the long process of recovery will begin. Given the severity of the damage, Boris is likely to remain in our bird hospital for about a month, allowing the pins to settle and the callus at the end of the broken bones to regrow. Then, we will need for the bird to moult, so that in the process it can replace the feathers removed for the operation. During this period we will house him in one of our secluded recuperation aviaries, keeping a watchful eye on him until such time he is fit enough to attempt flying again. Depending on that success, we'll progressively hack him back to the wild.

Though the S.O.S. Blog has been quiet for a few months - "pressure of work" precluding regular entries by your scribe - life has been busy here at the centre, particularly in the hospital where we currently have a full house of injured wild birds in various states of recovery. These include a little owl who was mobbed by crows and suffered the loss of an eye as a result; a sparrow hawk who flew straight into a window and concussed himself, a pair of kestrels both with broken wings, a tawny owl who needed a toe amputated in order to save the foot, and just last week an undernourished young barn owl who appeared to have been caught out by the first of cold snap of the winter which compromised his ability to hunt. We're pleased to say that all these 'inmates' are doing well. As for Boris the Buzzard, we'll keep you posted, and as for the "Blog", normal service will be resumed as soon as possible!