Autumn 2007 Newsletter
With another busy season drawing to an end, we've seen just under half a million visitors to Leeds Castle so far this year. It's been another Summer full of memorable events, not least with the birds flying as brilliantly (and unpredictably!) as ever. In July we spent an enjoyable evening at The Hawk Conservancy for their charity summer ball, in the company of fellow bird and conservation enthusiasts. As a partner in their fund raising initiative for the Oriental White Backed Vulture Programme in Pakistan, it is particularly encouraging to be able to report back that the event raised several thousand pounds for this desperate cause (more on this later).

We collected a newcomer to our flying team from Ashley at The Hawk Conservancy - Mr Bojangles - a Spectacled Owl who is now settled in at the castle and enjoying his new aviary and flying arena. As his training is nearing completion, Mr Bojangles is soon to join the Winter flying team in their 1.30pm weekend demonstrations.

Two new Peregrine Falcons have also joined us this year - Haggis - a 24 week old male and a three year old male called Hector. Hector was privately owned, and donated to The Hawking Centre following an accident with an electricity pylon which removed half of one of his feet. He is getting back to good health; a beautiful bird to watch as he flies free, building his fitness levels back up.

Falconry Insight Days have also kept us busy this year - it's been great to welcome so many of you and share our love of the birds with you. This winter we're running all our usual experiences, and we're now selling gift vouchers for Christmas, as well as renovating a new teaching room. New Children's Falconry Fun Days will also be run from 2008, as well as new style VIP Solo Days. We're planning to really spoil you with Bucks Fizz, luxury lunches and afternoon tea and cakes as well as one to one time with your falconer! See the Falconry Courses pages for more details.

Ashley and Campbell from The Hawk Conservancy have given us the following update on the plight of the Oriental White Backed Vulture. 30 Million birds have died in the past 14 years. During the decline the three largest colonies in Pakistan were in Changa Manga (750 pairs - now extinct), Dholewala (420 pairs - now extinct) and Toawala (445 pairs, now only 33 pairs remain, and only 2 active nests). The drug responsible for this devastation (Diclofenac) is now banned, but stock piles still remain with the farmers, and the new replacement drug Meloxicam is more expensive, so the Vultures are still under threat. On a more positive note, stage 2 construction of the breeding facility in Changa Manga is underway, with more aviaries and security fencing being built. The only way we can ensure they don't become extinct is to breed them in a controlled secure area. A HUGE thank you to all who help to fund the project - if you would like to know more or assist please call us - we sent through a cheque for £400.00 earlier this year and have pledged to raise at least £1000.00 over the next 12 months, so we need your help!

Finally, on another conservation note, you may remember the ornithologist and bird guide, Kelton Thomas, visiting us from Tobago for several months in 2005 to train as a falconer. Finally, Leigh and Jo managed to return the visit, and spent a fantastic fortnight with him exploring the rainforest and it's diverse and wonderful bird life. It was great to see Great Black and Short Winged Hawks and Ospreys as a daily occurence - and to see how Kelton works to educate his fellow countrymen in conservation. He is a real gentleman, and we can thoroughly recommend his rainforest tours....and Tobago!