2009-02-07
Thankfully, despite the very cold weather, all the birds are thriving. We are feeding them more than usual and ensuring that they all get extra protein so, if anything, they are all a bit overweight.
Quite a few owls have been brought to us recently following road injuries. Sadly, all but one Tawny Owl were so badly hurt that we could not save them. Naturally, in this very cold weather they are out hunting more and, inevitably, the tempting prey habitat in the undergrowth beside so many roads encourages the birds to locations where they are very susceptible to injury...
At the Trust we are preparing for the upcoming breeding season. All the aviaries are being whitewashed and disinfected and, where necessary, perches changed and nesting boxes constructed.
We have had a busy time with school visits. The youngest Tawny Owl at 9 months has now started to go out with us and is doing well although he is not yet as adept at standing on small hands as the older more experienced birds. Many schools are exploring various elements of conservation and we have found that the birds provide a very real illustration of how and why conservation is so important. School visits to the Trust where the effects of conservation work can be seen at first hand, are also proving popular.
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