Welcome Back, Mel!

We’re excited to welcome new Bird Team member, Mel, to the Hawk Conservancy Trust. Eagle-eyed readers may recognise Mel as one of our Conservation and Research Interns from 2023. She’s been settling into this new role over the last month – be sure to say hello, or perhaps a ‘welcome back’ on your next visit:

‘Hello! My name is Melanie, and I joined the Trust this spring as the newest member of the Bird Team.  I’m absolutely delighted to be here, working alongside such a knowledgeable and passionate group of people – and, of course, some truly remarkable birds!

With a love for animals and a passion for wildlife conservation, I studied a BSc in Zoology at Royal Holloway University. During a module of ‘Extreme Animal Physiology’ with Dr Steve Portugal, I heard about a research project here at the Trust investigating the force of the kick of the Secretary Bird. Hearing about this research inspired me to volunteer with the Bird Team at the Trust, which led to me completing a Conservation and Research Internship here too! It was my time at the Trust back in 2022 that began my love for birds of prey, which continues to shape my career to this day.

I moved to Bristol to study MSc Global Wildlife Health and Conservation at the University of Bristol and Bristol Zoo. I was fortunate to learn from experienced zoo staff about animal husbandry, training, welfare, and enclosure design. I also worked closely with their veterinary team, gaining hands-on experience with administering injections, bandaging injuries, calculating medication dosages and crop feeding birds. Through lectures and labs with Secret World, I learned how to rehabilitate and release native wildlife from buzzards to badgers. For my research project, I returned to the Trust to work alongside our British Projects Manager Dr Matt Stevens, assessing the parasite load of Barn Owl and Eurasian Kestrel chicks in relation to raptor nest box microclimate.

While studying in Bristol, I worked as a falconer and animal keeper at a small family run zoo where I worked with a variety of animals from armadillos and raccoons to vultures and Pygmy Owls! With over 60 resident birds of prey, I learned a great deal – from hand-rearing young owls to target training a Binturong for healthcare checks, every day was different and full of opportunities to build on my animal care skills.

Now, I’m thrilled to return to the Trust and bring everything I’ve learned back with me. I’m excited to be part of the team once again, and I’m looking forward to continuing my journey in conservation.

See you around the aviaries!’