Our Secretary Bird chicks are growing up fast, and have been joined by a third chick!

Our two oldest chicks, hatched August this year, are walking and 'flying' around with great enthusiasm! They have started target training, which we hope will teach them to stand on (rubber) snakes during our displays - demonstrating fascinating Secretary Bird behaviour. The third chick, hatched only a few weeks after the first two, is still too small to walk but enjoys watching his/her older brother and sister stumble around.

The success we have had breeding these Endangered birds is a beacon of hope for the future of Secretary Birds!

Our female Bateleur Eagle, Guy (hatched on November 5^th 2013) has been paired with our new male, Fawkes!

The conservation status of Bateleur Eagles has, unfortunately, been updated from Near Threatened to Endangered. We are hoping the new pair will get on well and eventually breed chicks of their own. Guy's mother was the most successful breeding Bateleur Eagle here in the UK (possibly the world). She lived into her 40s and successfully reared 12 chicks! Guy was her 11th chick, and we hope she will be just as successful as her mother in securing the Bateleur Eagle's future.

We are very excited to announce the arrival of two Secretary Bird chicks! Our secretary bird pair arrived here in 2003, so this has been a long time coming. The chicks have grown tremendously quickly in the past few days, and are now on display here at the centre (as well as their parents). You can view can take a closer look at their progress on our Cotswold Falconry Facebook Page. 

At only 10 weeks old, Mishka, our Eastern Siberian Eagle Owl already weighs over 2kg. Her fluffy downy feathers are currently being replaced with her adult plumage, a process that can take around 4 months. Siberian Eagle Owls are one of the largest species of owl with a total length of 75cm (30 in) and a wingspan of 188cm.

Breeding season is always a very exciting time for us at the centre and this year is no exception!

As well as the Lugger Falcon chicks (see previous news story), we have also had a Chaco Owl chick, who hatched here on 21st March and two Bald Eagle chicks, the first of which also hatched on 21st March.

Our pair of Palm Nut Vultures are currently incubating an egg. They are first-time parents and their first egg unfortunately got smashed, but their second egg, which was laid on 13th March, is being incubated very well. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the egg is fertile and hatches successfully. 

We are delighted to report that we currently have Lugger Falcon chicks! This is a first for Cotswold Falconry and if they succesfully fledge, will be our 48th species of bird of prey to be bred here.

Lugger falcon populations have severely declined in the last 30 years, mainly due to an increase in human populations encroaching on their habitat. Persecution, illegal trapping and the decline in their prey species has also had a dramatic effect on their numbers. We have been involved with Project Lugger, a charitable organisation whose main aims are to develop a healthy captive population with the hope to restore the numbers of wild Lugger Falcons. Our male (Maverick) was donated by Project Lugger, has been paired up with Indy, our female last year. The first chick hatched on 6th April, with chick number two following shortly after, on 9th April. Mum and Dad seem to be doing a great job rearing the chicks and can be seen tending to them on our CCTV. 

We are pleased to say we have a date for reopening!

Even though zoos are allowed to re-open earlier, demonstrations are unable to commence until the 17th May, therefore as the displays are such an integral and informative part of your visit, it makes sense for us to remain closed until then. Flying Start experiences are now available to book from 14th April. Booking is essential and Covid safety measures will be in place. 

We are looking forward to being able to reopen very soon and we thank you for your continued support.