We have had a very busy summer and autumn: we were invited to some Village Days and have also visited a number of local schools. Two recent field trips to the Trust by schools have also proved very enjoyable, especially as the weather was kind to us. We were really pleased to welcome all the people who have come to the Trust to see and handle the imprinted owls or to go on Hawk Walks with one of the free flying Harris Hawks.

Sadly, as always, there have been quite a few injured or ill treated birds to take into care. We have another badly hurt Tawny Owl, hit by a car and blinded in one eye. Happily, he has recovered as well as could be hoped for and is now in an aviary with 2 Barn owls and 2 more Tawny Owls all of which have a similar level of disability so they can live together well. Two barn owls have been brought in having been deliberately released by their previous owners. We know they were released on purpose because the rings showing they were captive bred have been cut off leaving a slight indentation where they should have been. Once birds are imprinted, it is extremely cruel to release them as they are not equipped to hunt or protect themselves adequately in the wild. Both these birds arrived in a bedraggled and underfed state but are now doing well and have been released into the large wild aviary where they seem to have settled Another deliberately released bird we have been asked to look after is a European Eagle Owl. He is doing well in an individual aviary but it is worth pointing out that release of such a large bird (5 – 6 foot wing span) in a town or city is not only cruel but highly irresponsible as a cat or a small dog is comparatively easy prey to such an animal living in an unnatural environment. The building programme is almost at an end. The breeding aviaries are finished and we have just about completed 3 new aviaries which will be available for any birds brought in for us to look after. As always, we have some new residents: A Long Eared Owl: we bred her ourselves and have hand reared her so she is thoroughly imprinted. Only 8 months old, she has already visited numerous schools and is getting used to meeting people ... she still is not too sure about dogs!