Baytree Owl and Wildlife Centre in Weston welcomes new arrivals
A wildlife centre has shared the importance of conservation work – as it prepares to send baby birds to welfare projects across the world.
Baytree Owl and Wildlife Centre in Weston, will be supporting research studies in Paraguay and Pakistan, after welcoming new arrivals to the site earlier this month.
Home to more than 60 owls and birds of prey, the centre on High Road, hopes to raise awareness of its latest care initiative.
Centre manager, Mark Birdsall has worked at the site for 11 years and feels passionate about spreading awareness of zoological projects. He said: “We’re now in the season where everything gets excitable.
“We have hatched three Lugger Falcon chicks – which is a rare species we have been trying to breed for four years.
“It’s quite satisfying to know we have helped create baby Lugger Falcons to support a project in Pakistan.”
Two out of the three chicks will take the 3,795 mile flight to the country in South Asia – where the species is declining, as part of a reintroduction programme.
‘Project Lugger’ was founded seven years ago by British Falconer, Bob Dalton, who sadly died in March.
As a tribute to his work, the team at Baytree Owl Centre have named one of the chicks after him.
Mark added: “We have more than 60 birds at the centre – 25-30 of those we fly as part of demonstrations and the others are breeding pairs for projects.
“It’s what we are here for. Our whole ethos is about education and conservation and I think it is important to educate people about birds of prey and teach them about different wildlife projects.”
Visitors will be able to meet and learn more about the life of owlets at two ‘baby day’ events on Monday, May 5 and Monday, May 26.
There will be ‘baby talks’ taking place at 10.45am and 1.30pm followed by flying demonstrations on both days.
As well as the Lugger Falcon project in Pakistan, Mark and his team will also be donating some of the funds raised from the ‘baby day’ events, towards an owl project in Paraguay.
He added: “A small owl species called the Chaco owl are originally from Paraguay and there is currently a project which is researching the wild bird to figure out why their numbers are declining.
“The money we donate from events such as the ‘baby days’ go towards GPS trackers, nets, rings and facilities to build ranger stations in Paraguay, so they are able to send over their findings and data.
“The baby Chaco owls here will be going into other breeding projects to build more captive numbers.”
Tickets for the Baby Day events cost £7 for adults, £5 for children and under 3s can attend for free. These can be purchased by visiting the website or on the day.
