Baby Barn Owls

It's that time of year again, and we have a new pair of barn owls sat on some chicks! Looking to strengthen our flying team, we have decided to take a couple of the chicks away to rear and train to join our already elite members.

The chicks are now roughly 2 weeks old, and are still just too ugly to photograph (OK, so I was just to lazy at the end of the day to get some pics), but above is what they will look like in a couple of weeks time. A little more appealing to the eye, but then it is only when they really get to this stage below when they start to take on the appearance of a barn owl.

We take them away at such a young age so that they will train to fly. Anything after 3 weeks, and it is very difficult to train them... they are then better left to be reared by mum and become good aviary birds.

Before three weeks however and they will become so imprinted on us that they will believe that they are a person, just one that likes to wear an owl suit... but hey, we all have our fetishes don't we Rich ;-)

The two chicks are being reared by Leonie and Tom, and may well start to make an appearance over the half-term week, so keep your eyes open.

Babies on View

This past week we introduced some of our orphans into their new homes. Above is Ellis. Katie has done a great job in rearing little Ellis, but of course he has grown quickly and now needs more space to run around in.

We introduced him to Biscuit, and as you can see they settled down with each other straight away.

Biscuit seems to love the new company, and I am sure Ellis is loving his new foxy friend too. Keep an eye open form him in our second fox pen across the pathway... he is most likely to be seen later in the day, or of course when Katie is in there say hello.

Also now in their new homes are Sybil the stoat, and Eva the weasel pictured above. They are both housed in their respective enclosures in the hedgerow. Since they have been hand-reared, they are perfect for showing the school children and college students... and allow us to educate them about these fantastic ferocious predators. I have said it many times, but they really are so much better at what they do than the larger exotic predators.

Both Rich and Iz will spend much time with them still to keep them friendly, carrying on the good work they have started, but don't worry all you photographers out there... As you may have noticed already, we do have stoats and weasels back in our photographic pens too.

Eva put on a particular good show all day yesterday, meeting and greeting the public, much to the delight of a very proud mother, Richard.

Hopefully next year we can pair her up with a male, and she can become a mother herself and we can re-establish ourselves as weasel breeders.

Grass Snakes Anyone?

Do we have any grass snakes on display? Yes... we do, we always have and I have many pictures proving this. Yet still I get asked almost daily if there are actually any in the enclosure.

The thing is with grass snakes, you have to be patient and spend a few moments looking. Even if they are out basking, they are so well camouflaged it can still be difficult to see them. And what with the Adders next door being so active recently, it just emphasises the lazy nature of the grass snake.

But, not want to be one that disappoints, I have acquired a couple of new grass snakes to add to the enclosure. Hopefully having  couple more in there will increase the odds of you being able to spot one.

The grass snake is Britain's largest reptile, though only found in England and a few in Wales. An aquatic species that is usually found near water, and is an excellent swimmer. The grass snake mainly preys on frogs, toads and newts but will also take small fish and the occasional small mammal.

It is going to be a lovely warm weekend this week, so come and check out our snake pits... I am sure they will be making the most of the warmer weather and be basking out for you all to see.