
Harris Hawk – Sam
D.O.B: 1st June 2006
Personality: stubborn and scatty
Likes: Sadie
Dislikes: change
Since childhood Sadie has had a passion for animals and the environment, and always knew she would work with them somehow. Studying for a National Diploma in Land and Countryside Studies at the Berkshire College of Agriculture and then to Devon for a Degree in Rural Resource Management. After graduation, she moved to Somerset and this lead to her first introduction to Falconry at a small centre in the middle of Exmoor. ‘My first lesson was patience! I sat for 4 hours with a Saker Falcon on a very hard bench, but was smitten instantly’ From the centre, Sadie’s passion grew to take her around the world volunteering in America, Iceland and Africa. In 2006 Sadie went to work for a falcon breeding centre in Derbyshire, this was a real eye-opener into the true falconry world of hunting.
Over the winter I looked to start my own business, returning to my passion for environmental education. Hawks on Walks was launched in 2007 and successfully relocated to Shropshire where the business really took off. From flying the Harris Hawks I realized that there is a real hole in our knowledge of British Birds of Prey and I started to really look at expanding to include these magnificent birds. In 2009 Sadie sold Hawks on Walks and has returned to Berkshire setting up Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre now based at Moss End Garden Village. ‘I aim to introduce people to the birds that we so often glimpse at on the side of the motorway or admire as they circle and soar above us, teaching how they fit into the environment and how we can help to protect them”.
Olivia’s passion for animals began very young and has only grown since; working with animals in some way was always in the life plan. Olivia studied for an FDA in Animal Behavior and Welfare at Berkshire College of Agriculture where she also worked on the animal unit for two years. ‘In 2016 I realized my main passion was for British wildlife conservation and I was lucky enough to undertake a Community Wildlife Traineeship for one year, followed by a 6 month Education Traineeship, both with the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust where I gained a wealth of invaluable practical conservation and educational experience as well as knowledge about our countries amazing wild animals’.
During this time Olivia started volunteering at Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre and after a year took on a part-time role at the centre. Finally, in 2017 Olivia is now a full-time member of staff. ‘ I am so excited to be starting my new full-time role at the centre getting involved in everything we do from handling sessions, teaching school groups, and taking part in conservation projects. I can’t wait to start learning all the tricks of the trade, spending more time with the incredible birds here and helping to spread our conservation message’.
D.O.B: 1st June 2006
Personality: stubborn and scatty
Likes: Sadie
Dislikes: change
D.O.B: 29th May 2010
Personality: dependable and a bit of a show off
Likes: hunting, big flights and playing with toys
Dislikes: people going near his food and dogs
D.O.B: 9th April 2016
Personality: cheeky and lovable
Likes: sitting on peoples heads and stealing the brush when you're cleaning!
Dislikes: anything with wheels
D.O.B: 11th April 2018
Personality: chatty and nosy
Likes: learning new things and flying fast
Dislikes: having her (very tickly) feet cleaned
D.O.B: 28th June 2011
Personality: a bit of a nervous nelly
Likes: chatting to people and chewing his tracker
Dislikes: other Buzzards!
D.O.B: 12th June 2016
Personality: intense!
Likes: eating anything with feathers and making a mess
Dislikes: rabbit and people being too disruptive
D.O.B: 2nd May 2011
Personality: brave and tenacious
Likes: flirting with other Kestrels and eating everything
Dislikes: hats and the local male kestrel coming too near his field!
D.O.B: 21st May 2019
Personality: noisy and charismatic
Likes: shouting for food and learning new things
Dislikes: people not paying her attention!
D.O.B: 17th June 2004
Personality: steady and cheeky
Likes: eating quail, sitting in his oak tree and showing off!
Dislikes: having his beak coped (trimmed)
D.O.B: 20th June 2015
Personality: loud and outgoing
Likes: long, high flights and eating
Dislikes: Red Kites and falconry hoods
D.O.B: 14th and 12th May 2015
Personalities: feisty yet adorable!
Likes: their nest box and eating mealworms
Dislikes: being stroked (they are only tiny!)
D.O.B: 4th April 2011
Personality: nosy and likes things her own way
Likes: hiding food in her plant pot
Dislikes: Olivia!
D.O.B: June 2013
Personality: gentle giant
Likes: rats and chatting to everyone
Dislikes: dogs
D.O.B: 6th April 1994
Personality: Queen!
Likes: flying over peoples heads
Dislikes: ducks!
D.O.B: 19th June 2018
Personality: loveable scatterbrain!
Likes: waddling along the floor and eating!
Dislikes: Running horses and snow!
D.O.B: 12th July 2013
Personality: strong-willed and lovely
Likes: jumping in the bucket when you are trying to clean his aviary
Dislikes: cars and chicken feet
D.O.B: 5th July 2015
Personality: affectionate and flirty (with humans!)
Likes: Olivia!
Dislikes: cars, beef and loud noises
D.O.B: 3rd June 2019
Personality: extremely inquisitive and sweet
Likes: everyone and everything
Dislikes: loud noises and being ignored
D.O.B: 11th May 2010
Personality: so laid back he's horizontal
Likes: sitting in his Ash tree and flirting with the local Tawnies
Dislikes: anything that requires effort
D.O.B: 8th May 2018
Personality: beautiful fusspot!
Likes: pretending to be a branch and having his photo taken
Dislikes: having his feet touched!
D.O.B: 20th February 2012
Personality: loyal and sweet
Likes: eating anything, bum scratches, sleeping and rubbing her face on your leg
Dislikes: Tilly kicking her out of bed and fireworks!
D.O.B: 8th April 2018
Personality: crazy and super cuddly!
Likes: big cuddles, digging, running at full speed and sticking her cold nose on the back of your neck
Dislikes: the cold and the rain