Hagley Falconary Centre

adrian1963

adrian1963

Well-Known Member
I hope to be visiting this small but very informative and beautiful kept collection on Tuesday 13th April. I have been informed they have a good display of all types of birds of prey.

there collection consists of the following -

African Fish Eagle
American Kestrel
Asian Brown Wood Owl
Bald Eagle
Barn Owl
Batelaur
Bengal Eagle Owl
Black Kite
Cape Vulture
Chaco Owl
Common Buzzard
European Eagle Owl
Ferruginous Hawk
Golden Ealge
Harris Hawk
Himalyan Vulture
Lanner Falcon
Little Owl
Long Eared Owl
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Raven
Red Tailed Hawk
Ruppell's Griffon Vulture
Saker Falcon
Snowy Owl
Spotted Eagle Owl
Steppe Eagle
Straited Caracara
Tawny Eagle
Tawny Owl
Turkmenian Eagle Owl
White backed vulture
White Headed Vulture

If there are any questions or any photographs any one would like just let me know
This will be my first time back for at least 20 years so should be a bit of a surprise to see how far they have come. as it used to be a very small place with very small cages and hardly any birds.
 
I have now visited the Centre and lets start at the beginning

You have enter the Centre through the garden centre (WEBBS) It's towards the back of the garden centre.
The Entrance is through a large shed type entrance and small shop to the side of the paying in area.
Straight outside you are into the small but very attractive flying area to the right you have some cages these include among others the Red Tailed Hawk very attractive looking species.
Also in the first lot of cages you'll find a Barn Owl, and one of 2 snowy owls, up the corner and roped of is thier latest species to arrive at the Centre it's a Vulture (sorry forgot the name but will find out) it's the only one in the UK and as only been with them for a very short time.
Then you come to the part I loved a lean too with a variety of Falcons, Hawks and Eagles these were standing on perches, no wire or glass so could take some great shots of the birds unhindered.
After this there iare some more cages these included the Eagle Owls I was surprised how friendly they were but I still wouldn't put my fingers anywhere near the cage.
After these you have a small area where you can have a rest or a drink.
As you walk towards the entrance if you go up the path on your right, this will lead you to more cages in these were some of the following, Little Owl, Golden Eagle, Common Buzzard andthe last cage had the 3 species of Vulture in togther.
On the left you had some more Hawks and eagles and a vulture on perches these included a Harris Hawk, Tawny Eagle and a Vulture (name unknown)
The display area is the main part of the green in front of the entrance.
I was very impressed with how far the Centre had come since the last time I was there. There are loads of information all around the site and staff are there to answer any questions you have,
They also have a rescue centre which looks after on average 75 birds of prey a year injured or rescued and these are released back into the wild (if from the wild) as soon as possible to give them a good chance of survival.
I must admit I had a very pleasing day and have learned more about this small but very well run and looked after cantre.
Will return again as soon as possible
 
Good report. Did you see the raven? Our local bird of prey centre (Gauntlet in Knutsford) have a raven whose handler is on the lookout for other places that fly ravens. I'd be interested to know if the one at Hagley is flown.
 
Yes the Raven is flown at the Centre along with 80% of the collection
They also fly at other locations through out the year
If you visit thier Gallery then click on website you will find that they go all over the UK with thier birds.
 
adrian1963 said:
I have now visited the Centre and lets start at the beginning

You have enter the Centre through the garden centre (WEBBS) It's towards the back of the garden centre.
Click to expand...

is that the place by Upton Warren sailing lake? If so there's a nice wildlife trust reserve close by where I saw my first Bittern and breeding Avocets
 
Unfortunatly not it's in the West Midlands just outside Birmingham (10 Miles)
for those who have to use Public Transport you can get here by getting the 192 Bus from Birmingham or Halesowen and it will drop you off outside (2 minute walk).
If you like gardening the gardening centre has many variety of plants and equipment for all types of gardening.
 
Just a little note to say that I have put some new photographs in the gallery
Visited 16.09.2010 had a great day not many people about, there were no displays as thursdays are for experience days so got to see some birds flying
They now have a young kestrel that was a rescue bird but unfortunatly was hand reared so won't be going back into the wild so they hope to use him in their displays will post photographs of him later.
I saw the Merlin for the first time and thought what a beautiful bird some of the birds have been moved on I suppose for breeding purposes with some new arrivals coming soon.
 
What is the story on any conservation breeding programmes?
Owls, falcons and vultures (I did see the have quite a few African spp. including the critical Capes ...:D).
 
I have made a visit recently to the centre and just a few notes for the update

Hymalayan Vulture (Only one in the UK) to start training for outside displays shortly, hope they can obtain a mate for him.
they are hoping to breed both their golden eagles and straited caracara's this year
Make some improvements around the site and a possibility of extending so as to give the Hymalayan Vulture more flying room inside an avairy

Edit - sorry had to remove the bit about a new arrival but their are new photographs on my flickr page if you want to leave comments feel free
 
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