OWLS

Owls are not technicaly a Bird of Prey coming from another branch of the evolutionary tree. The saying 'Wise old owl' is not necessarily true as they have a brain a lot smaller than the Falcon and Hawk family! However they have the most amazing night time vision and can see in almost total darkness, they also have the most advanced hearing system in the animal kingdom which means they can sneak up behind their prey and have them wrapped up in their talons and eaten before they even know the owl is coming!! Putting all that together and nature really has created the ultimate nightime predator.

MITHRANDIR (MISTY)

Misty is a juvenile Bengal Eagle Owl in training. He was born and bred on the outskirts of Swansea and now lives with us in Clovelly where he has become quite a well known character! He is imprinted, meaning he was hatched
in an incubator and hand reared. We got him at 20 days old and continued to hand rear him. In captivity he may live to be 30-35 years old. He would normaly be awake and hunting during dawn and dusk but is very happy to work during the day. Misty will soon be working in displays and being used on our experience days. 

   

LITTLE OWL BREEDING PROGRAM

This year we have embarked upon a Little Owl Breeding program hoping to release some birds back into the wild around North Devon. Little owls have only been in this country just over a hundred years introduced from Europe and we would like to see more of them locally. What they lack in size they certainly make up for in character!!

           

FALCONS

Falcons are traditionaly used for hunting birds on the wing due to their wonderful ability to manouver in flight as anyone will testify who has seen a Peregrine stooping out of the blue at anything up to 200mph. The Kestrel however is the bird most commonly seen hovering over motorway verges and is the only bird of prey who actually hovers and drops down onto small ground rodents and insects.


EOWYN

Eowyn is a female Kestrel who is four years old. In captivity she could live to be fifteen years old! She has been with us since she was twelve weeks old and she has become a really steady bird working well with children and adults alike. She can be seen working at the Milky Way Adventure Park with Tim. She is brilliant at demonstrating the hovering abilities of her species and works well to the lure.


                                                                       

HAWKS

Hawks are used by the serious hunter to catch ground game from rabbit and hare to pheasant and other game birds. Harris Hawks are probably the most intelligent raptor and the only Bird of Prey that can be taken out and flown in groups as they are used to hunting as a family.


BILBO BAGGINS

Bilbo is a sixteen year old Harris Hawk. He has been with Tim since he was 20 weeks old. In captivity he may live to be 30 years old. He is a great hunter and loves accompanying people on long walks along the coastal footpaths. You can often catch Bilbo taking part in demonstrations at The Milky Way Adventure Park, N.Devon

FRODO BAGGINS

Frodo is six years old. Tim had him at 16 weeks old. He is a great hunter and has taken many rabbits on Clovelly Dykes!