Feathers and Fur

Introducing our newest team member ‘Winstone’ the Bengal Eagle Owl. Well actually the congratulations go to Jade as Winstone is actually her first own bird! (I’ve already warned her that it’s a slippery slope once you’ve got your first, as that’s what happened to me after one Harris Hawk – what’s another 9 birds!)

Winstone is 6 weeks old is in currently undergoing a process called imprinting. Basically Winstone is living with Jade every single moment, experiencing everything from screaming children (sorry to hear about your head Dylan) to the TV, dogs, cars, and even scary mean chickens!. Everything that happens will help Winstone on his way to being a calm and hand able member of the team.

He is a light phased Bengal Eagle Owl which means that he will eventually look similar but smaller than our European Eagle Owl, Billie and hopefully a lot lighter.

Winstones into everything at the moment and his growing body means he eats a lot which of course in turn means he poo’s a lot! Sharing your house with a baby owl is a smelly business (I hope my family don’t read this since our new Tawny Owl is coming to live with us next week!) but Jade has taken to it like a true pro. Just to show a down side to the ability to purchase Owls so easily, I actually met a lady today who’s other half had just bought a 1 year old Barn Owl from an “apparently” and for the moment will use this word with trepidation “experienced” bird of prey keeper, who sold this barn owl in a parrot cage, claiming it lived very happily for the past year in it. Unfortunately its silly people like this that show keeping birds of prey in a bad light. But its people like Jade who take the time to come and volunteer and learn all they can before even considering a bird of their own that will receive the full benefits and truly understand the wonderful bond between keeper and bird. I hope the man does not own a Harry Potter cape and wand!

Also big thanks to Winstones first family in Liverpool, Lee and your lovely wife have done a cracking job and we promise to keep you up to date with all his activities.

Here are some pictures of the happy new family. Another big thankyou to Ben, Jade’s brother who has been working tirelessly for the past week to build Winstones new aviary and for the moment Tilia our Buzzard is enjoying it!