From cautious first introductions to captivating visitors in our displays, discover how Bird Team member Poppy built a special bond with Harris’ Hawk, Phoebe. In September 2025, Bird Team member Poppy was introduced to Phoebe, one of our Harris’ Hawks. When our Head of Animals, Tom asked if she would like to be the person to work most closely with Phoebe, Poppy jumped at the opportunity. Her role would be to build a relationship with Phoebe, prepare her for our “World of Birds of Prey” display during the winter season, and introduce her to visitors during our experience days. “I […]
At the end of July, the team travelled to Uzbekistan to complete the annual fieldwork for our Central Asian Vulture Project. This year’s focus was to tag more juvenile Egyptian Vultures with GPS trackers. This involves locating nests and within that, nest with birds at the right stage of development – both elements of which are no mean feat! The team set out from Tashkent, covering over 3,000km in just six days of fieldwork, travelling across the Kyzylkum Desert in search of active nests. In these remote desert landscapes, Egyptian Vultures’ nests are often found in crags and holes on […]
For Bird Team member Hugo, working with African Fish-Eagles has been a long-held ambition. Ever since visiting the Hawk Conservancy Trust at the age of eight, Hugo watched Othello soar overhead and imagined what it would be like to one day fly one of these striking, impressive hunters himself. Years later, that dream has become a reality, as he now works closely with two of our very different African Fish-Eagles: Othello and Victoria. The Challenge of Othello Othello, our male African Fish-Eagle, has quite a reputation among the Bird Team. Intelligent, opinionated and selective about who he chooses to work […]
As Summer 2026 draws to a close, we are saying a fond farewell to our wonderful interns, Alice and Kristina. Over the past few months, Alice has been a valued member of the Conservation and Research Department, while Kristina has brought enthusiasm and creativity to our Education and Marketing teams. Their hard work, fresh perspectives, and positive contributions have made a lasting impact across the organisation, and we are incredibly grateful for all they have achieved during their time with us. We wish them every success in their future endeavours and look forward to following their exciting next steps. Alice’s […]
Dr Jamie McKaughan, our Conservation and Research Coordinator, cracks open the myth surrounding Kestrels and how they hunt their prey, separating fact from fiction and revealing what the science is really telling us… When better evidence comes along, it should update our knowledge and our thinking, but sometimes our collective memory does not always keep pace, or perhaps the new evidence does not get the public spotlight it should – another discussion for another time perhaps! Nonetheless, ideas that have never been properly demonstrated, tested or proven can become so deeply embedded in popular understanding that years of repetition give […]
As we stagger our way through yet another heatwave, summer is well and truly underway, heralding the end of another exciting school year. We have been delighted to welcome over thousands of pupils to the Hawk Conservancy Trust since for another year, providing memorable experiences that enhance their school learning. We have been lucky enough to work with many inspirational schools and students, with one in particular group from last year standing out as a rewarding experience for Trust staff and students alike. Toynbee School, based in Southampton, is a secondary school with a specialist department supporting students with visual […]
If you’ve ever spent time watching owls, be that in the wild or in human care, in the UK or overseas, one of the things you’ll no doubt notice is just how different their eyes can be. At the Hawk Conservancy Trust, we have some wonderful examples. Sweeney Todd, our Snowy Owl, has striking bright yellow eyes that seem to glow against her white feathers. Molly, our Eurasian Eagle-Owl, stares out with vivid orange eyes, while Troy, our Tawny Owl, has deep, dark brown eyes. So why are they so different? For years, one of the most common explanations […]
Sophie shares a passionate update about her experience on the Bird Team and the birds she has been caring for. She also shares a little bit about Norbert (this year’s White-backed Vulture chick) and how he is growing in confidence, learning new things and widening his wings. “I have been helping at the Trust since 2017, when I first came as a work experience student. Since then, I have continued to be involved in between my other roles in zoological collections and overseas in South Africa, and this summer I have joined the team as a Bird Team member. […]
As ever, July brought with it Global BirdFair, and we went along, joining thousands of fellow bird enthusiasts to celebrate and discuss all things birds! As an international bird of prey conservation charity, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to share the work we’re doing around the world. Our Conservation and Research Coordinator, Dr Jamie McKaughan, gave two talks over the weekend. The first highlighted the status of vultures in Pakistan and the conservation challenges they face, reflecting on nearly 30 years of our work in the country. The second explored the challenges falcon conservation faces from the illegal wildlife trade, […]
Some readers might be aware that 2025 was a very poor year for cavity-nesting birds of prey such as Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, and Kestrels. Only 132 young birds were ringed from project boxes in 2025, which is considerably lower than in previous years. 2013 was the last time we recorded as few in the nest boxes. A lack of small mammal prey is one of the likely reasons for the poor season, along with unfavourable weather conditions. The Small Mammal Project, a project within the British Raptor Programme, focuses on monitoring abundance and diversity of small mammal species in […]
