Hawk Conservancy Trust

The Hawk Conservancy Trust is a bird park and conservation charity that cares for and displays birds of prey.[1] It is located in Weyhill, Hampshire, England, near to the A303 road and the town of Andover.[2] The site is home to more than 130 birds of prey and it spans 22 acres of woodland and wildflower meadow.[3]

A great grey owl perching during a flying display at the Hawk Conservancy Trust in 2012.

Founded as a zoo by local farmer Reg Smith and his wife Hilary, the park was incorporated as the Hawk Conservancy Trust in 2002.[4] It is also the site of the National Bird of Prey Hospital, a veterinary hospital that takes in injured birds of prey.[5][6] The Hawk Conservancy Trust funds its charitable work mainly from the running of its bird of prey visitor centre.[7]

In 2016, a male secretarybird that was kept at the Hawk Conservancy Trust was studied by researchers. They tested its kicking ability with experiments. The findings had implications for studying how other species move, including extinct birds. It was also suggested that this type of research about extreme examples of animal movement could help design fast-moving robot limbs or prosthetics.[8]

See also

References
  1. "Snake-hunting secretary birds use the force of five times their body weight to stamp on and kill their prey". Phys.org. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  2. "Excitement as white-tailed sea eagle spotted in Hampshire — and not a reintroduced Isle of Wight one". Isle of Wight County Press. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  3. "The Hawk Conservancy Trust's stunning wildflower meadow is inundated with birds of prey". Surrey Live. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  4. "Our History". Hawk Conservancy Trust. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  5. "National Bird of Prey Hospital". Hawk Conservancy Trust. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  6. "Peter the peregrine falcon released into the wild after being rehabilitated at the Hawk Conservancy Trust". Andover Advertiser. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  7. "Top Trumps proves a hit at Hawk Conservancy Trust". Andover Advertiser. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  8. "Lanky bird's killer kick quantified". BBC. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
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