Owl found in live trap

Whilst we’re sure that our followers know that lethal traps are a danger to wildlife, including raptor species which aren’t always the intended target, there is also a danger to be found in using live traps.

Some of the facial injuries to the Tawny Owl

Some of the facial injuries to the Tawny Owl

We recently received a call from a local landowner who had discovered a Tawny Owl stuck in a live rabbit trap. Trapping for Rabbits is legal, and in some areas it has a long history of land management and employment. The landowner extracted the owl carefully from the trap and brought it to us for a check. Unfortunately, live traps are often made of metal mesh, which can cause damage to the feathers of birds of prey. The Owl had some bumps and scrapes on it’s face where it’s tried to escape from the trap, as well as some swelling to a wing, which we suspect was caused as it tried to flap in a confined space.

Other than this, the Owl is a good weight, so we hope that after a few days of observations and pain relief it should be good to be released again.

If you are using any sort of traps for any sort of animals, you have a responsibility to check them regularly for bycatch. Whilst live traps should be checked at least every 24 hours (ideally more often), this also applies to lethal traps, or even sticky paper fly traps, which can often result in horrendous injuries to mammals and birds, including Barn Owls like Sticky.





Check your rescue!

Here at Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, we have been helping sick and injured birds of prey since 2001, and have developed good relationships with many local, national and international rescues who work with birds of prey. As such, we are able to offer advice, support and assistance when asked.

Our facilities on site allow us to treat sick and injured wild birds of prey, as well as caring for lost or abandoned chicks or fledglings during the spring and summer seasons. We work closely with specialist vets to ensure the best care is given to all of our patients, with the ultimate goal being that they are released back into the wild.

We were recently approached by a wildlife rehabber who had been looking after a Tawny Owl. They didn’t have the facilities to hack it back into the wild and asked if we could help. When it arrived, the Owl was not ready for release. It’s talons were worn and blunt and its tail feathers were incredibly worn and broken.

We suspect that the owl was being kept in a meshed aviary with a concrete floor. Whilst these aviaries do serve a purpose for some birds, they are not suitable for birds of prey, who are susceptible to high stress scenarios, which can cause them to hang off the mesh, damaging feathers in the process. Concrete is very abrasive and not a natural substrate for wild birds to be found living on. Anyone who has watched Feral Pigeons in a town or city will notice they often have issues with their feet, and their claws are often very short from stomping on the pavements in search of food.

Thankfully, after a few weeks in one of our aviaries with plenty of food, this owl decided to grow out its tail feathers, and its talons started to sharpen up again. This is very important for release as this could hamper it’s hunting ability, and therefore survival.

We were pleased with it’s progress since arriving with us, and have now released it locally with two Owlets and another adult. Prior to being released, all the Tawny Owls received a full health check and a BTO metal ring. This means that if they are found in the future, we will receive a report telling us where and when they were found, and the condition they were in. It’s hoped that they will stay in the local area and possibly utilise some of the natural tree cavities and artificial boxes in the woods to breed in future years.

If you find a sick or injured wild bird of prey, please check out our list of rescues and facilities who might be able to help. Whilst there are many competent wildlife rescue facilities around the UK, they do not always have the specialist knowledge and facilities required to successfully rehabilitate birds of prey.

Tawny Owls ringed and released

We were able to release our group of four Tawny Owls recently after their stay at our Raptor Hospital.

The group of four consisted of two young Owlets, who were brought in separately. One was found on the ground in a dangerous location, and the other was being monitored by a nest cam but appeared to be abandoned when it’s mother stopped bringing it food. Being of a similar age, we put them in together and they soon settled down and could be seen preening eachother.

The other two Tawny Owls were young adults (chicks from 2020). One was a long term rehab resident after sustaining a head injury following a collision with a car. This cause a bleed in the eye, which we had to monitor once it looked better to assess whether it had regained full sight. Thankfully, it made a full recovery and thinking it was a “she” (based on her size) we put her in with the Owlets. She settled in as well and was seen not only preening the youngsters but also bringing food to them.

The last Tawny Owl came to us from another rescue facility and needed some time to grow back some essential feathers. This owl was added to the group and the four owls seemed to get along well together.

Young owls and long term patients are suitable candidates for a hack release, where we install a pen in a remote location to give them time to get used to being out in the wild again, but while still provisioning them with food. After a few days or weeks (depending on our assessments), we open the hatch to give the birds freedom to come and go as they please. We continue to monitor the pen after this, and will carry on putting food out for as long as it takes for them to stop visiting. Sometimes, they fly out as soon as the hatch is open and they never come back, other times they will hang around for a wee or two while they adjust to life in the wild again.

Before being released, the group were ringed by a licenced BTO ringer, which will hopefully mean that if they are found again in the future, we will know what happened to them once they leave the pen.

One of the Tawny Owls being ringed by a BTO licenced ringer.

One of the Tawny Owls being ringed by a BTO licenced ringer.

Our local wildlife friendly Farmer Sam has had a hack pen on his land since last year, and was all too happy to add the group of Tawny Owls to his farm. The pen was relocated to a more wooded location and the owls were delivered. Falconer Jess and Education Officer Susan talked to the family about why the Owls had come into the hospital, and about what they need to survive in the wild. The children were very excited to see the owls up close and told us there are lots of voles in the field, which means this should be a perfect location to release them from.

Farmer Sam with his children, releasing one of the Tawny owls into the hack pen.

Farmer Sam with his children, releasing one of the Tawny owls into the hack pen.

The owls spent a couple of weeks in the hack pen before we opened it up. Jess then visited every couple of days to drop off some food for the Tawnies, while they explored the surrounding area. Using camera traps, we were able to monitor their comings and goings, including some other cheeky local wildlife raiding the free food!

We are pleased to say that after three weeks of freedom, the owls have stopped visiting the hack pen, suggesting that they have now established their own territories and discovered the plentiful supply of wild natural prey to be found in the fields and woodlands.

Why are the birds so scruffy?

Visitors over the summer may have noticed that some of our birds are looking particularly dishevelled at the moment.

All birds moult their feathers, with different types of birds adopting different strategies that work for them. Waterfowl, such as ducks, geese and swans, will drop most of their feathers at once, making them unable to fly. At this time of year you may have seen large gatherings of waterfowl on ponds or lakes, where they can at least escape terrestrial predators by going on the water. Most other birds will only drop a few feathers at a time, as they have to be able to fly to escape danger or find food.

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Having missing feathers isn’t necessarily going to impact on their survival, but it will make it a bit harder for them to fly, and in the case of birds of prey, hunt.

Lincoln, our Bald Eagle is currently over at SOS2, having a holiday as he grows some new feathers. He will be back in his usual spot near our entrance in the Autumn to welcome visitors.

Titch is also having a well deserved break, after a busy Spring teaching groups and schools All About Owls. She is currently being “fed up” so she has enough energy to replace her tail and some of her wing feathers.

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Taiga and Taz, our pair of Great Grey Owls have opted for a full blow out this year. They laid some eggs earlier in the spring, which we removed and incubated to allow us to hand rear the chicks, which are now in training to join the flying display team. Their aviary looks particularly scruffy, but this is completely natural, as most birds wait until the end of the breeding season (end of Summer) to moult. Despite our best efforts, no sooner do we clear up all the feathers and make it tidy, more appear (a bit like the leaves from the trees which have already started dropping!)

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And it’s not just the birds! Our Silver Foxes are going through their junior moult, so Diamond in particular is looking scruffy! They have been using the wooden posts in their enclosure as scratching posts to help remove some of the loose fur, and will soon have a fresh new coat ready for the coming winter.

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Summer visitor for SOS

Suffolk Owl Sanctuary has welcomed a special visitor for the summer holidays this year.

Trainee Falconer Dolly with Auckland, our Boobook Owl and volunteers Sarah and Cara with our Big Hoot!

Trainee Falconer Dolly with Auckland, our Boobook Owl and volunteers Sarah and Cara with our Big Hoot!

We are pleased to announce our involvement with the Big Hoot Trail, due to take place summer 2022 around Ipswich. The trail will see a number of large Owl sculptures, painted by artists, dotted around Ipswich for people of all ages to discover over the holidays. Then at the end of the summer, they will be auctioned off to raise funds for St Elizabeth Hospice.

The Owls have been designed and created by Wild in Art, who have helped with similar sculpture trails around the UK.

Visitors to Suffolk Owl Sanctuary this summer will be greeted by “Snowy”, one of the blank Owl Sculptures. Located in the picnic area at SOS2, she provides a great photo opportunity for families. While visiting, young visitors are being encouraged to enter the colouring in competition, being run by St Elizabeth Hospice. They have already received some excellent entries, with first prize being a family VIP ticket to the Sanctuary! The closing date is 6pm on August 31st, so if you haven’t picked up a form yet, please visit the Big Hoot website.

Our Director Chris Astridge says “There is a natural synergy between the theme of the fundraising and the work that we do here at Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, so it felt very relevant that we should get involved to help support the fantastic work that St Elizabeth Hospice does in the local area.”

In addition to us hosting a Hoot for the summer, our education team are working on some learning resources to be included in an activity pack which will be distributed to schools and youth groups in the Ipswich area this Autumn.

Medicating for parasites

Suffolk Owl Sanctuary is pleased to announce that we are trialling a new treatment for wild birds of prey that are brought in to our Raptor Hospital.

Working with specialist avian vet Dr Elliott Simpson MRCVS, we will be giving our patients a dose of Ivermectin, which is used to treat parasites.

This Kestrel was treated for a lice infestation using Ivermectin.

This Kestrel was treated for a lice infestation using Ivermectin.

As Elliott explains “Wild birds coming in or brought in by the public are naturally debilitated, and as such can be more at risk of being overwhelmed with parasites; both inside and out.
By treating those wild individuals brought in to the hospital setting at the point of admission, we are not only reducing the parasite burden potentially on that bird, but also reducing the risk of spread to other birds in the hospital. It is a small step in the process to ensuring any and all wild birds released are as fit and healthy as they need to be to survive in the wild.”

We apply Ivermectin as a spot on treatment, which will cover against most commonly seen parasites such as lice, as well as given protection against some internal parasites such as roundworm.

A young Kestrel being treated for a lice infestation. As you can imagine, it takes great skill to ensure that the medication is administered successfully without injury to the bird or those helping.

A young Kestrel being treated for a lice infestation. As you can imagine, it takes great skill to ensure that the medication is administered successfully without injury to the bird or those helping.

Ivermectin is not a cheap drug for us to use, so if you would like to contribute towards the costs of this treatment, please visit our donations page here.

Christian Bale and his three Amigos

Last month, we received a number of Little Owlets from across the area.

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The first to be brought to us was named Christian Bale, after the unfortunate circumstances in which he was found. Christian was found dangling by the neck from some baler twine wrapped around a bale of hay. The farmer who found him had already moved the bale from the field and was about to unload the trailer when he spotted poor Christian. He was brought in to us with a bit of a sore neck, and was treated with some pain relief and tasty morsels of food. The farmer returned to his field and checked for any signs of the nest, but was unsuccessful at locating it.

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A few days later, we received a call from someone local to us, who had found two Little Owl chicks in a churchyard in a sorry state. They were brought in and quickly assessed. Unfortunately, they were both suffering from flystrike and starvation, which suggests that they had been abandoned by their parents, possibly after the nest was disturbed. It took three members of staff over two hours to clear the poor chicks of maggots and fly eggs. They were then given some food and placed in the same cage as Christian, who immediately began preening them and found some maggot that had been missed (Little Owls do predominantly eat insects). These two were fondly nick-named Maggot and Flea.

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These three settled in well together, when a fourth Little Owl chick was brought in. This was found far away from any suitable nesting area and covered in mud, suggesting that it had been taken from the nest by a predator, then dropped. Thankfully, it wasn’t injured and once cleaned up joined the other three to create a foursome.

We had already decided that they would be perfect candidates to be hacked back into the wild, and had a few options available to us. Someone local allowed us to install the hack box on the edge of their garden, and was happy to provide them with food. They were moved to their new home and given a few days to acclimatise before the door was opened, allowing them to explore their surroundings. Three of the four left under the cover of darkness but one has remained nearby and is currently enjoying the free meals that are still being provided. It is hoped that given time this one will also disperse and move to a new area nearby, and not be reliant on humans for food.

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Tawny Cam

We’ve had an interesting new arrival in our hospital in the past week or so.

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This young Tawny Owlet was brought in after a member of the public was monitoring an Owl box using a remote camera. A female Tawny Owl laid a single egg in the box, but then was joined in the box by a Stock Dove, who proceeded to lay her own clutch of two eggs!

Both birds incubated the eggs, mostly taking turns but occasionally together, which is quite unusual as Tawny Owls would generally see a Stock Dove as a tasty meal!

The Tawny egg hatched and was being fed by mum, but there was no sign of a male Tawny assisting. Over time, the mum visited less and less, and the decision was made that the chick probably wasn’t being fed anymore, so we intervened.

The youngster is doing well and we are hoping to find it another young Tawny Owl that we could release with it at one of our hack pen sites.

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GUEST BLOG - Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme

Sadly, rescue work doesn’t always result in a positive outcome. Some birds succumb to their injuries before we can begin treatment, and others brought in to us as so badly injured that the kindest thing to do, for the birds welfare, is to euthanise them. Whilst this decision is never taken lightly, the deceased birds can still provide useful information about the ecosystems they came from.
Here, we’ve spoken to Elaine Potter, an Environmental Scientist with the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, who run the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme.

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Can you explain what the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme is?

The Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme (PBMS) is a long-term, national monitoring scheme that quantifies the concentrations of contaminants in the livers (and eggs) of selected species of predatory birds in Britain to determine how and why they vary between species and regions, how they are changing over time, and the effect that this may have on individual birds and bird populations.

 

Where do you get your samples from?

Samples are submitted by members of the public who find dead birds of prey while out walking or in their gardens, and by wildlife centres like yourselves. To request a submission pack, people can complete a ‘Contact Us’ form on our website or telephone 01524 595830 and leave their details (name and address plus bird species so we know what size box to send out).

 

What is the process between someone finding a dead raptor and you being able to use the results in reports?

Someone finds and freezes a dead bird of prey (double bagged paying attention to good hygiene) and provides us with their details (name and address plus bird species so we know what size box to send out). We send out a submission pack which contains everything they need (bags, postage label, etc.) to submit the bird, postage paid. We currently receive more than 600 bird of prey carcases each year; on receipt all birds are logged in and frozen. Depending on the research questions of our funders, selected birds have a post mortem where the tissues are harvested and frozen. Then a post mortem report is emailed to the person that submitted the bird. At the end of each calendar year, tissue samples are selected from the freezer and sent for analysis at the UKCEH Analytical Chemistry Facility in Lancaster. Analysis can take months as the labs are busy with a broad range of analyses and therefore, there may be a significant lag between bird submission and analysis.

Most recently, analysis of barn owl tissues has enabled us to report on ‘Second generation anticoagulant rodenticide (SGAR) residues in barn owls 2019’.

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What have been your main findings?

We publish reports, scientific papers, data and news.  The two latest papers reported Concentration and origin of lead (Pb) in liver and bone of UK buzzards, and The Importance of Trophic Pathways for Secondary Exposure to Anticoagulant Rodenticides.

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Are your reports used to inform or make changes to best practice guidelines (in terms of rodenticide and lead use)?

Yes, Lee Walker (our principal investigator) recently attended a meeting of the Government Oversight Group (GOG) which oversees the UK rodenticide stewardship regime. Lee presented the findings of our most recent monitoring of anticoagulant rodenticide residues in barn owls and red kites; the reports can be found here. This work provides independent evidence as to whether there is any change in wildlife exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides that may be associated with stewardship.

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What one piece of advice would you give to anyone wanting to help wildlife?

If you find a baby animal or bird on its own, its mother will usually be close by so it is best to leave it where it is and watch from a distance. If you find a dead bird of prey and are safely able to collect and freeze for us, please complete a contact us form. If the dead bird has any sign of decomposition we cannot harvest the tissues so please leave it where it is to decompose and return to nature.

To find out more about the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme, please visit their website:
https://pbms.ceh.ac.uk/

Tawny Owlets released

This year we had just three Tawny Owlets into our Raptor Hospital.

Tawny Owls are known for leaving the nest before they can fly, and exploring their surroundings by “branching”. Despite not being able to fly, they are very capable climbers, and most that fall from the tree are able to return to the canopy with a bit of effort. Even if they don’t make it all the way, Tawny Owl parents will fiercely protect their young, and continue to feed them even if they’re not exactly where they left them the previous night!

We always advise leaving them alone, but monitoring from a distance, unless they are in danger, such as on a busy path where there could be dogs, or near a road.

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Our first Tawny Owlet was found on the ground by the side of a road, which clearly put it at higher risk. We advised the finder to bring it in, and it spent a few weeks being looked after by our dedicated staff.

With young birds, there is always a risk of them imprinting on us, so we try and minimise contact with them as much as possible. For this reason, the first Owlet was given a surrogate mum to cuddle with, which provides comfort for them.

Just as we were starting to wonder what to do with it, in terms of release, we got a call about a second Tawny Owlet who needed to be brought in having been found on a busy public path. And within a week, the duo were a trio, as a third owlet was brought in. It is considered best practice that young birds are reared together to limit the risk of imprinting, so whilst we’d rather not have any baby owls in, at least they could all be released together.

Once the new Owlets had been assessed and had a few days of good meals, we got in touch with Michael, who found the original owlet near his farm. He had offered us a space to install a hack pen for their release. This method of soft release works well for young birds, as they have time to get used to their surroundings before the door is opened, and food is provided for them for as long as is necessary.

We are pleased to report that on release day, the three Owlets were a bit reluctant to leave with an audience, so Michael left the door open for them. In the morning, all three had left, so we are hopeful that they have all set up territory in the woodland on his farm.

Our thanks to Michael, who allowed us to release the owls onto his land, and to the other finders who contacted us about baby owls this season.


Positive feedback from involvement with Suffolk Agricultural Association

Last year, we were invited to get involved with a new educational outreach initiative by Suffolk Agricultural Association. The plan was to visit schools across Suffolk with a roadshow of activities, put on by a variety of organisations linked to Agriculture and the Environment.

The pandemic caused us to rethink our plans, so that instead of physically visiting each school in person, we were able to provide some activities which could be delivered by the teachers using our materials. For this, we chose our Pellet Detectives kits, which have proven to be very popular in the past 18 months, especially with the upturn in home learning.

42 schools across Suffolk received a box, which contained other activities such as a flatpack nest box for small birds, some sapling hedgerow species and wildflower mixes for planting, as well as resources and lesson plans to aid the teachers with the activities. These activities were delivered to over 1,000 students.

These boxes were delivered to schools in March and April, and we have recently received some amazing feedback:

How did you use the resources to engage your learners in countryside and conservation activities?

They really enjoyed the pellet detective work, Finding the different parts of the smaller animals. They loved trying to match the bones to the Guidance paper and practice redrawing and labelling them.

With the current owl nesting season being upon us, the Y3 will be engaging in writing an explanation text linked to experiencing the owl pellet dissection. We will link this with live web cams of nesting barn owls and information videos about owls. This is planned to start next week.

The owl pellets were used with a Year 3/4 class and they were very excited at examining them. The identification chart was very useful. They came to conclusions about the owls’ diets and were surprised at the tiny bones that were undigested.

Photo by Kerri Walker

Photo by Kerri Walker

What progress did your learners make during these activities?

Their observational skills as well as sorting and grouping skills improved a lot to. Their ability to explain their reasons for thinking their bone belonged to which animal, justifying it to their partners.

There will be progress within the children’s writing due to the interest in the dissection activity giving them a great stimulus for writing. They learned and used lots of technical vocabulary. The unit created interest in the countryside around them and gave them the incentive to look out for owls in the countryside and some knowledge of how to care for these birds.

An understanding of an animal’s diet, where its habitat must be to fulfil its food needs. It promoted their thinking scientifically skills.

Photo by Natalie Parren

Photo by Natalie Parren

After many months of online/at home learning, what benefit was there to enjoying these outdoor learning activities? What, if any, wellbeing benefit was there?

Lots of opportunities for collaborative working and discussion which was sorely missed during lockdown.

Huge benefits of practical work – both in terms of knowledge and team learning

Their mood improved greatly and it also felt as if a weight was lifted off them, they were care free and stress free, at least for the duration of the task.

Photo by Emma McColl

Photo by Emma McColl

What food/farming/countryside environment resources would be useful to you and your learners?

Like many other schools, we are keen to starting getting out and about on visits again. These would be of huge benefit to our learners.

Pellet detective work was amazing,

Photo by Lee Wood

Photo by Lee Wood

For more information about our work with Suffolk Agricultural Association, please visit:
https://suffolkshow.co.uk/education/suffolk-schools-outreach-project/

GUEST BLOG - Paul Sawer Wildlife Photographer

We asked Paul Sawer, a local Wildlife Photographer who runs our popular Photography Courses, to share some of his experiences with us. Here’s what he had to say:

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

 I am 49, live in Saxmundham, Suffolk and  I am a professional wildlife photographer.

My job allows me to travel widely and I arrange and guide wildlife photography tours as well as teaching and setting up photographic experiences in the UK including photo tuition at SOS.

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Boxing Hares - photo by Paul Sawer

 What led to you becoming a wildlife photographer?

 I have held a passion for the countryside and it’s wildlife since childhood. In the early years I was content to simply observe the local wildlife but in my twenties I wanted to record what I was seeing on film (stills not movie), hoping to emulate some of the great images that were being published at that time. This was to prove a very slow process and it took me years until I had reached the standard I was aiming for. This was not only due to having to learn the camera and the art of photography but also learning about the subject itself. For me the latter was the fun part. I am not into landscapes, portraiture or still life and I would not be a photographer if there wasn’t any wildlife to point the camera at.

Once I had attained a decent standard I was able to provide a little income through image sales via photographic agencies although my main revenue nowadays comes from workshops I conduct assisting other photographers to obtain quality imagery.

Kestrel - photo by Paul Sawer

Kestrel - photo by Paul Sawer

 How has wildlife photography changed over the years?

 The main change has been the development of digital camera technology. Not only can one now take many more frames per second (any extra frame offers more chance that a fast moving subject will be captured in the correct position) but the advancements in high ISO  mean that even on the darkest days a high shutter speed (therefore avoiding motion blur) can be obtained without too much loss of image quality. High capacity memory cards mean you can shoot many 1000’s of shots without the expense or concern of changing film after 36 shots so consequently the chances of obtaining good results are higher.

Another great advantage is the ability to immediately view the resulting images alongside the shooting data. This is a huge benefit to the photographer and also extremely helpful when I am offering tuition.

There are now several folk like myself around the country that provide services such as hide hire or specialist photo experiences where all the groundwork has been done to, as far as is possible with wild subjects, almost guarantee your chosen animal will arrive on cue.

Tawny Owl - photo by Paul Sawer

Tawny Owl - photo by Paul Sawer

 Is being a successful photographer down to equipment, skills or luck, or a combination of all three?

 All three for sure, with the addition of knowledge and experience, though these may come under skills.

Knowing what to expect and the exact spot, where say a bird will settle, enables me to be set up and be ready to press the shutter at the right time. My general style is for a ‘clean’ image without any distracting elements and I often create a scene in which I have complete control of everything apart from the bird to ensure the foreground, background, lighting, distance from subject etc. are all as I desire and then wait for the bird to appear in my chosen spot. A little bait usually helps in achieving this fairly quickly

As previously mentioned the equipment available today is incredible but I feel this simply means one has to up their game to create images that stand out, which is by no means a bad thing.

There is of course still plenty for the photographer to do. One still has to constantly adjust settings, expose, focus, track and compose as well as battle the elements and often undertake some ungodly alarm calls.

No doubt luck comes into play occasionally but I feel you usually make your own luck or rather increase your chances. Experience teaches you to leave the camera turned to certain settings so that it is ready to go for that moment a hawk comes whizzing past, when there simply isn’t time to make any camera setting adjustments. Or on a cloudy day setting your hide in the position that still works should the sun appear.

Barn Owl and Butterfly - photo by Paul Sawer

Barn Owl and Butterfly - photo by Paul Sawer

What is your best/ most memorable photo that you've taken/ that someone else has taken? (And can you share them?)

In my formative years I was inspired by two photographers.

Eric Hosking began photography in the 1920’s and was way ahead of his time producing some incredible shots and I can only wonder what he would have achieved given today’s equipment.

Eric Hosking setting up an automatic trip for use with High Speed Flash to Photograph birds in flight -1948 (Photo courtesy of the Eric Hosking Trust)

Eric Hosking setting up an automatic trip for use with High Speed Flash to Photograph birds in flight -1948 (Photo courtesy of the Eric Hosking Trust)

2  images, 1 of a barn owl and the other a nightjar, both in flight, stand out as favourites.

Stephen Dalton produced some amazing images using high speed flash in 1970’s and 80’s (and probably still does). His work mostly involved insects but his shot of a swallow drinking blew me away when I first saw it and I would be thrilled to have taken it myself. Again this was with ‘old’ technology which makes the achievement even more amazing and, although still difficult, would be much easier to capture today.

Photo of a Swallow drinking, by Stephen Dalton

Photo of a Swallow drinking, by Stephen Dalton

 

I don’t have a favourite photo of my own work. I feel it is a bit like food or music and depends on my mood. I do however have favourite subjects- kingfishers top the list followed closely by owls, birds of prey and hares. I like simple uncluttered shots usually with an element of action.

Kingfisher with catch - photo by Paul Sawer

Kingfisher with catch - photo by Paul Sawer

What is one bit of advice you'd give everyone to help wildlife?

 Start at home. It doesn’t have to be much. I feel something we can all do fairly easily is to leave a little area of the garden wild.

Plant some wildflower seeds, build a nest box or dig a pond.

If everyone has just a little bit for nature this turns a housing estate into a nature reserve with little refuges dotted around at regular intervals.

Hedgehog and Snail - photo by Paul Sawer

Hedgehog and Snail - photo by Paul Sawer

To see more of Paul’s images and find details of his photography courses, please visit his website:
www.paulsawer.co.uk

To find out more information about our own photography workshops, run by Paul, please click here.

Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge Awarded

We are pleased to announce that we have been awarded the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge Certificate. This recognises our commitment to providing innovative and inspirational learning experiences outside of the classroom environment safely.

The LOtC Quality Badge is the only nationally recognised accreditation scheme for outdoor learning providers. The Department for Education guidance on Health and Safety on educational visits recommends that schools look for Quality Badge holders when choosing external providers for educational visits.

Here at Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, we have created a number of free to download resources for schools and educational groups to use, either in the classroom before or after their visit, or while they are enjoying a day out with us.

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For groups visiting us at Stonham Barns, we can provide a tailor made itinerary on a range of themes or topics relating to our work, including food chains, habitats, adaptations and conservation, to name just a few. These topics can be delivered as guided walks, talks, sessions and workshops and may include presentations, games, crafts or practical elements depending on the age and ability of the group.

We are also able to deliver educational sessions as part of our outreach offer, where we attend your school or group. And launched in response to the pandemic, our virtual sessions continue to inspire people who live too far away to visit us, or us them.

For more information about our Educational offering, please visit:
https://www.owl-help.org.uk/education-department

All of our activities are risk assessed and are delivered by our qualified and experienced staff.

National Volunteers Week 2021

National Volunteers Week takes place every year between the 1st and 7th June. It’s an opportunity for us to highlight the amazing work that our volunteers do, and to say a massive THANK YOU to each and every one of them.

We asked our volunteers to share their thoughts and stories… here’s what some of them said:

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“After working on farms for 50 years, and having owls on two of them, volunteering seemed to be a good step forward to still be involved in their care and well being. I feel privileged to have a chance to help like minded people look after birds and animals, and sharing their passion for the welfare of all. The staff and fellow volunteers are a great bunch of people to work with, sharing their knowledge, and love for the Sanctuary. Monday’s are a day I love, as I have been volunteering for 5 years at SOS, hopefully many more to come.” Linda

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”I started volunteering last summer after being made redundant from my full time job, due to COVID. I wanted to spend some time helping an organisation that is close to my heart as I love being with animals. I wasn't sure what to expect but they are such a lovely team to work with as well as the other volunteers, who all have such a passion for the health and wellbeing of the animals. I am able to help clean out aviaries, which doesn't sound glamorous but it allows me to spend time with individual birds and learn about their habits and 'quirks'! I definitely get a workout when I’m at the sanctuary - which is a good thing! I have learnt a lot about how to care for the birds and other animals but also organisation skills, time management and generally being part of a team. The commitment of the staff is shown through their care of the animals and how they are able to help so many rescues that are brought through to the hospital (sometimes daily!).” Sarah

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“Being newly retired I wanted to find volunteer work that offered variety but would also be fulfilling and worthwhile. I have always been interested in birds and in particular birds of prey, so an opportunity to volunteer at the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary was perfect for me. I enjoy all the varied tasks - whether it is carrying out the necessary cleaning of the bird's accommodation, doing the feed round or helping with bird exercise and displays, or even the gardening. It is great to do volunteer work with an amazing team at Suffolk Owl Sanctuary - there is never a dull moment.” Phil

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“I’m learning all the time, whether it’s how to look after the different birds and animals, or the phrases used everyday that originate from falconry, such as “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush” or that “mantle” means to cover. I started volunteering because I wanted to get involved with falconry, but since volunteering I realise how much is involved and the commitment needed for looking after the birds is very demanding. I love spending time with the birds, especially helping to create enrichment for them. SOS have quite a few species of birds that I wouldn’t have seen or learnt about before. And of course, it’s nice to see all the baby owls every year, and watch them grow up over the years.”

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“I am a studying for a wildlife conservation degree, so I wanted to gain practical experience working with animals over the summer, but I loved volunteering so much that I just keep coming back! I also love getting my hands dirty! I really am at my happiest when covered in mud in the torrential rain or getting covered in animal poo – it’s all just part of the adventure! I’ve learnt so much, from cleaning aviaries and prepping food, to flying the centre birds and learning how to pick up injured birds in the raptor hospital safely. I’ve also made so many friends, whether 17 or 70, but all a variety of like-minded people. What I love most is working with the animals that have cheeky characters (I’m looking at you ravens Rey and Charles!). Yet, as much as I love working with all the wonderful birds and animals, one of my favourite parts about working here is the people! The staff and volunteers are all super kind, fun, and have really taken the time and effort into making me part of the team and teaching me lots of new skills.” Izzy

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 ”I volunteer at SOS because I love getting really close and personal with the wonderful birds you have. I particularly like the vultures, a species which gets a bad press, but which I am pleased to see SOS is helping to change. The staff and volunteers are great to work with, being so knowledgeable and friendly. I have learnt so much! I am also enjoying working outside, surrounded by bird calls, which is particularly lovely after a lifetime working indoors.”

Garden Wildlife Week 2021

We are often asked questions on how to attract owls into gardens. Owls are an apex predator, who require quite a large territory to find enough food for themselves, and any offspring they may produce. Whilst putting up nest boxes can encourage them, if there’s nothing for them to eat, then they won’t stay long.

Here’s some handy tips on how you can encourage more wildlife into your garden, which may result in some owls!

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KEEP IT WILD! Leave areas of your garden untidy and overgrown, which will provide food and shelter for a number of invertebrate species. We are supporters of #NoMowMay, where gardeners are encouraged not to cut the lawn for the month of May. This allows many important pollinator friendly flowers to actually flower, and set seed for the following year. It also looks really attractive and you can help by counting the different types of flowers in your lawn and submitting to Plantlife and the #EveryFlowerCounts survey.


WET IS WONDERFUL! If you have space, create a pond! It doesn’t have to be very big - an old washing up bowl sunk into the ground is perfect for small gardens. Make sure there are varying depths and an easy access/ exit ramp for animals to use in case they fall in.
Here is some more information on How To Build a Pond.

Also, you should provide clean drinking water for wildlife as often as you put out food. This could be a shallow bowl or something more elaborate, but if you’re using a steep sided vessel, please put some rocks in the bottom to help small animals climb out.
Insects also need water, but are in danger of drowning. You can help by filling a shallow bowl with small pebbles or gravel and pouring water so that it just reaches the top. Insects will land on the dry gravel and walk to the edge to lap up the water.


FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD! In the UK, we spend millions of pounds every year on feeding birds and other wildlife in our gardens. There are so many different types of food and feeder out there, we could write several blogs on the subject! But here’s a few handy tips:
Variety - different food will appeal to different species. For birds, using a seed mix which includes sunflowers (or sunflower hearts), millet, oats, maize, wheat will appeal to most species, although peanuts and niger seed are also popular. You can add suet/ fat balls and mealworms, but these should be fed in moderation.
We’ve created some instructions on How To Make a Bird Feeder.

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For most mammals, they will just eat whatever they can find. Hedgehogs in particular are very good at eating things that are not good for them, which in some cases can be ingredients in hedgehog specific food. If you have hedgehogs visiting your garden, you should put out a small amount of cat or kitten food (they don’t like the fish varieties), either dry kibble or meaty. They should not be fed mealworms, peanuts or dried fruits (which are not good for any mammals due to the higher sugar content), or be given milk to drink (water is fine).

For insects, plant a variety of pollen and nectar rich native species, which flower at different times of year to provide food throughout the season. Yellow and blue flowers are particularly good.

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Human scraps are not suitable for wildlife - although we’ve all fed bread to ducks in the park, it isn’t particularly nutritional for them and can cause problems if fed to young birds before they have fully developed. Likewise, throwing scraps onto your roof often attracts scavengers such as Foxes, Gulls and Red Kites, which can be an amazing sight to see. However, the day you forget to feed them they are likely to cause issues to you or your neighbours, and may become a nuisance.


Location - some birds will happily hang off feeders, while others prefer to forage underneath. Again, variety is key, and moving feeders around semi-regularly will help protect your smaller birds from predators such as Sparrowhawks.


Clean it up - Unfortunately, many diseases are spread at feeding stations, especially those that have many visitors. You should wash your feeders every time you refill them, or if you notice the food is not being eaten/ going mouldy. If you see any sick birds in your garden, you should consider removing your feeding station temporarily to prevent further disease. For more information on this, and to report any sick or dead wildlife in your garden, please visit Garden Wildlife Health.

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HOME SWEET HOME! There are all sorts of homes for wildlife, and most are designed for gardens. Bird nest boxes usually come in two forms - a hole or an open nest. These appeal to different species and should be positioned appropriately (out of prevailing weather and direct sunlight, and with some cover from vegetation) You can also buy specialist nest boxes for species such as Sparrow (which like to nest as a colony), Swifts (which will involve ladders to place their artificial nests high on buildings) and of course, owls!
Other homes could be provided for Bats, Hedgehogs, Toads, and of course, what they all eat… insects! Our How To Build a Bug Hotel guide will help you get started using items from your recycling or found on a walk.


So, whether you have a windowsill or balcony, or a few acres to play with, it’s easy to make space for wildlife in our gardens.

If you follow any of our How To guides and want to share the results, please email info@owl-help.org.uk or share them with us on social media.




Live Cameras

Who enjoys watching TV soaps and dramas? Did you know that something just as captivating is happening right outside in our countryside, and you can watch it, for free, and from the comfort of your own sofa, thanks to dedicated individuals and organisations.

Norwich Cathedral Peregrine nest. Image credit Hawk and Owl Trust.

Norwich Cathedral Peregrine nest. Image credit Hawk and Owl Trust.

The use of remote cameras to monitor wildlife is nothing new, but thanks to cheaper technology their popularity has boomed in the past few years, and the recent lockdowns has led to many sharing their footage with a wider audience online.

Here is a selection of our favourites which you might be interested in (most of these websites have links to several different nests):

Hawk and Owl Trust - several cameras, including Norwich Cathedral Peregrines
https://hawkandowltrust.org/web-cam-live/norwich-cathedral-side

Wildlife Trust webcams - including Ospreys, Peregrines and Barn Owls
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/webcams

Nest Box Live - several cameras, including Kestrels
https://www.facebook.com/NestBoxLive/

Wildlife Kate - lots of nest cameras, including Tawny Owl and Kestrel
https://www.wildlifekate.co.uk/

Robert Fuller - lots of remote cameras including Kestrel and Barn Owl
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU0LJ9et5Tb3m7COFzShgLg

Dyfi Ospreys
https://www.dyfiospreyproject.com/live-streaming

Loch of the Lowes Ospreys
https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/

Mangolinkcam - links to lots of nest cameras from around the world, including eagles, hawks, vultures and owls.
https://www.mangolinkcam.com/webcams/birds/eagles.html

GUEST BLOG - Kartong Bird Observatory

Here at Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, you may have enjoyed seeing Jack and Rose, our pair of Hooded Vultures, who take part in our afternoon display. This species is listed as Critically Endangered and it is our aim to raise awareness about their plight. We hope in the future that any progeny produced will contribute towards international conservation efforts.
In early 2020, our Education Officer, Susan, visited Kartong Bird Observatory in The Gambia to carry out two weeks of bird ringing surveys in the area. The area is well known for birds, in particular the wintering ground of many common British migrants. There is also a stable population of Hooded Vultures, which the Observatory have been monitoring for a number of years. Here, she’s asked Roger Walsh, Vice Chairman of the Observatory to explain more about the work they do.

What is Kartong Bird Observatory and what work does it do?

First-winter Lanner Falcon captured near the disused quarries at Kartong. Photo credit Colin Cross

First-winter Lanner Falcon captured near the disused quarries at Kartong. Photo credit Colin Cross

A migratory Eurasian Scops Owl being measured. Photo credit Susan Jones

A migratory Eurasian Scops Owl being measured. Photo credit Susan Jones

The first bird ringing surveys at Kartong in The Gambia ran in October 2000. In 2009, Colin Cross moved out to live permanently in the village and the Kartong Bird Observatory (KBO) was subsequently formed in 2010. Since that starting point, there have been up to three survey expeditions each year aimed at gathering data about the importance of the area for wildlife, and for migrant birds in particular.

We carry out regular surveys of the birdlife, with a focus on recording the usage of different habitats by the migratory species that spend the winter months in West Africa. This survey effort involves mist netting of birds at different times of the year at a number of core study sites.

New birds that are captured are identified, ringed and measured while recaptured birds are recorded and measured. A subset of the species we capture is sampled for different research projects, including genetic sequencing, parasitology and isotopic analysis. Other survey work includes year-round recording of waders and seabirds using the littoral areas around the Kartong coastline, transects for core study species and observations of birds wearing coded colour rings.

KBO collaborates with university and conservation organisations on a number of research projects looking at different aspects of ecology and conservation of both migrant and resident birds.

 

What is a typical day like at KBO?

KBO research assistant Dembo Jatta putting a metal ring on an adult Shikra. Photo credit Oliver Fox

KBO research assistant Dembo Jatta putting a metal ring on an adult Shikra. Photo credit Oliver Fox

No one day is like any other at the Observatory. If an expedition is running, then team members generally get up at 0530 and head out to the designated ringing survey site for a 0600 start.
Some of the mist nets will be opened in silence while it is still dark to try to catch certain species like Owls and Nightingales. We are cautious about opening all the nets too early though as there are large numbers of bats in the area that come into roost and we prefer not to catch those!
The rest of the morning is spent regularly checking the nets and extracting any birds captured, returning them to the nearby base to be ringed, measured and photographed.
Generally by around 1030 it gets too hot for catching birds safely so we take the nets down and head back to our lodge for a rest.

The afternoons are an ideal time to look for birds marked with colour rings – especially gulls, terns and waders at roosting or feeding sites on the beach and estuaries. By early evening, when the temperature has dropped to a more manageable level, we can head back out to a new survey area and put up the mist nets ready for the following morning.

The variety of dry scrub, forest, freshwater wetlands, reedbeds and tidal estuarine areas means that each survey session turns up different sets of species and often a number of unexpected surprises.

Photo showing one of the local Observatory staff surveying the mangroves for waders. Photo credit Hugh Hanmer

Photo showing one of the local Observatory staff surveying the mangroves for waders. Photo credit Hugh Hanmer

 Can you describe the work you do with Hooded Vultures?

Wing-tagged Hooded Vulture Yellow-BA using the drinking pool at the Observatory. Photo credit Colin Cross

Wing-tagged Hooded Vulture Yellow-BA using the drinking pool at the Observatory. Photo credit Colin Cross

Three Hooded Vultures leaving roost to forage on the beach. Photo credit Hugh Hanmer

Three Hooded Vultures leaving roost to forage on the beach. Photo credit Hugh Hanmer

Like the majority of vulture species across the world, Hooded Vulture populations are decreasing at a worrying rate with an estimated decline of 62% in global population over the last 50 years and the species is now considered to be critically endangered.
However, in the coastal parts of The Gambia, it appears that Hooded Vultures are locally abundant and have adapted to be urban scavengers making use of a wide variety of food sources, including road kill, abattoirs, rubbish dumps and fish waste.

Understanding the population structure of different geographical groups of Hooded Vultures is necessary to determine the level of genetic diversity. We have a study underway to sample the genetic diversity at three locations in The Gambia and provide a unique insight into the population level mixing of these vultures. The blood samples taken from the vultures we are able to capture, individually mark and release, will also inform work on blood parasites. Knowledge about blood parasite diversity can be important in understanding the spread of pathogens and the influence of parasitism and disease on population levels. This work is being currently carried out in collaboration with Dr Jenny Dunn at the University of Lincoln.

 

What species of owls and raptors have you caught in Kartong?

As well as our focus on Palaearctic migrant birds we have captured a wide range of birds of prey during our mist-netting and other surveys at KBO, including:

Adult Lizard Buzzard showing underwing pattern. Photo credit Oliver Fox

Adult Lizard Buzzard showing underwing pattern. Photo credit Oliver Fox

·        Western Osprey

·        African Harrier-Hawk

·        Hooded Vulture

·        White-backed Vulture

·        Eurasian Griffon Vulture

Heavily-spotted underparts on this adult female Barn Owl of the affinis race from continental Africa. Photo credit Oliver Fox

Heavily-spotted underparts on this adult female Barn Owl of the affinis race from continental Africa. Photo credit Oliver Fox

·        Lizard Buzzard

·        Gabar Goshawk

·        Red-chested Goshawk

·        Shikra

·        Ovambo Sparrowhawk

·        Yellow-billed Kite

·        Western Barn Owl

Grey morph of the migratory Eurasian Scops Owl which winters in West Africa but is rarely seen there. Photo credit Oliver Fox

Grey morph of the migratory Eurasian Scops Owl which winters in West Africa but is rarely seen there. Photo credit Oliver Fox

·        African Scops Owl

·        Eurasian Scops Owl

·        Northern White-faced Owl

·        Pearl-spotted Owlet

·        Grey Kestrel

·        Red-necked Falcon

·        African Hobby

·        Lanner Falcon

 

How can people help support the work of KBO?

The Hobby-like Red-necked Falcon is resident in Kartong and is most active at dawn and dusk when it hunts over the wetlands and woodlands. Photo credit Oliver Fox

The Hobby-like Red-necked Falcon is resident in Kartong and is most active at dawn and dusk when it hunts over the wetlands and woodlands. Photo credit Oliver Fox

As an organisation employing seven Gambians, we rely entirely on the financial support from individuals and groups. All the bird ringers who join our activities fully finance their own trips to West Africa. Therefore, we remain very grateful for any donations that contribute to our running costs.

We are currently applying for funding to support further work on vultures and any contributions towards this are particularly welcomed.

As well as the conservation science work with birds and other wildlife, the KBO team works closely with the local community in Kartong and surrounding villages in a variety of ways. This includes supporting youth initiatives, funding for health centres and community education projects. As part of this, we provide some funding for a dentist to visit and carry out regular hygiene checks in the local schools. KBO is proud to support this and other community projects in Kartong.

To find out more about Kartong Bird Observatory, please visit:
http://kartongbirdobservatory.org/

You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

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