Whippet.   Photo - David Fox

We are now fast approaching the end of the first month since the opening of the Muncaster Hawk and Owl Centre and what a first month it has been! I'm just about getting to grips with how wet it can be here during the Spring but also how stunningly beautiful a backdrop Muncaster is. Delilah, my chocolate Labrador, and I have settled in very well especially as she loves the water. In fact I have a sneaky suspicion she's part otter!

All in all it has been a fairly hectic first month what with transporting 20 birds from Hampshire to West Cumbria and preparing the centre for their arrival. We also had one of the biggest events of the Muncaster Castle calendar in that first month which we needed to fly for so the pressure was on right from the start. The team at Muncaster have been working so hard to assist and support the start of the new Hawk and Owl Centre. The core of staff at Muncaster is like one giant family into which all the birds, dogs, other bird staff and I have been welcomed with open arms. Thanks is due to all those who have so kindly helped us 'beyond the call of duty' to get us up and running. Much of the week prior to getting any birds here was spent making adjustments to the existing aviary structures, building safety barriers, removing the previous substrate of damp bark chippings in the aviaries and shifting (LOTS!) of gravel. We are already starting to see the change in the centre but there is a long way still to go and lots of work to be done.

We took the decision early on that the transition from the World Owl Centre to the Muncaster Hawk and Owl Centre should be built upon wanting to achieve the highest standards in, first and foremost, bird welfare but also in positive experienes for visitors. Those who have visited since we've been open and whom have visited before the change will have noticed that the collection of birds is much smaller than Muncaster has housed previously. We are however great believers in the idea that less can be more and, with the constant and vital advice of Ashley Smith, Penny Smout and many others at the Hawk Conservancy Trust, we are hoping to build a centre of excellence and quality here at Muncaster.
The standards the Hawk Conservancy Trust sets are high. Anyone who has visited the Trust will know that and the goals of the Muncaster Hawk and Owl Centre are aiming to mirror that high standard. We are all very proud to be working alongside the Trust.

Emma with Diego. Photo - David Fox

I was initially a little anxious about the staff I would be working alongside as I knew that the changes we would have to make to the centre to get it to a standard we would be happy with would be a long road. I also didn't know whether we would have similar goals and standards for the centre and this would make it very difficult to work together. My fears were unfounded as I am very lucky to have two brilliantly talented falconers working with me on this project in Stuart and Emma both of whom have worked incredibly hard to get us to the stage we are at now which is not a bad one considering we are still technically in our first month! Our daily flying display, named 'Sky Hunters', has been a great success with visitors. We initially set up our flying space in front of the castle but have since decided that our prefered space is to work up on the beautiful wildflower meadow. The views from here are lovely - especially of the castle - and the birds seem to really enjoy flying here, Already Herriot, our Steppe Eagle, has been soaring high above the castle and the falcons just love the lift they get above the trees below the meadow. We hope to be introducing our second flying display, which I suspect will be very owl-themed, by the end of the month - something we hadn't expected to be in a position to do. If you haven't been to visit to see the displays yet then make sure you do because the birds are flying amazingly at the moment.

Stuart doing what he loves best - cutting grass!

We also have a few young birds joining the team very soon so I shall do my best to keep you updated with their training and when they arrive. Iona is traveling down to HCT to pick up two young barn owls whom we hope will become fantastic ambassadors for their species and a stunning part of our morning display. I will be making the trip down to Northamptonshire to collect a young male Barbary Falcon from my good friend Mike Hewlett at the tail end of next week. It's been a while since I've trained one so I'm looking forward to flying a Barbary again!



There is still so much work to be done here before we can say the centre is the best it can be but we all have a common goal. Everyone here at Muncaster, including nearly every visitor I have spoken to (there's always one or two isn't there!), wants the Hawk and Owl Centre to succeed and that support is invaluable to Emma, Stuart and I. If you feel particularly generous and would like to donate your time and skills to help us shift gravel, paint fences or cut grass (although you'd probably have to fight Stuart off with a stick for that privilege) then send us an email as we'd love your help.