The Hawk Conservancy Trust is home to the only public Great Bustard aviary in the UK. Currently there are four injured male birds on view, which have been provided by the Great Bustard Group - a British-based charity set up to promote the conservation of the Great Bustard.
The Great Bustard was lost to the UK nearly two centuries ago, and the centrepiece of the Group’s work is the UK Reintroduction Project, a programme based around the release-site on Salisbury Plain - a former stronghold of this magnificent species. In 2009 the project experienced a huge success when the first Great Bustard chicks hatched in the wild after nearly 170 years.
The project is now going from strength to strength, particularly after gaining funding for a LIFE+ Project in 2010 that allows the reintroduction project to grow. More chicks have hatched in the wild along with releases of young bustards imported from Russia every year.
Did you know?
The oldest bird of prey at the Trust is 'Trevor', a Bateleur Eagle, who is over 40 years old.
