Although falconry was one of the original primary interests, over the years the interests and aims have shifted and the conservation of birds of prey, both wild stocks and captive populations, has taken the foremost position, although the Centre’s falconry origins should never be forgotten. Indeed, it is interesting to note that in almost all the captive breeding and release projects the world over, with few exceptions, by far the most successful and sustained are those started and/or run by, or advised by those with falconry backgrounds. The insight gained in handling, training and flying many of the species of raptors and owls is often far greater than that which could ever be learned from observation of either wild or captive birds. This insight makes the breeding of the birds in captivity an easier task, as the species, and the individual birds become known far more intimately.

The Centre has for some time been extraordinarily successful in the captive breeding field and is the world leader in the number of species bred in a single establishment – 62 species in 39 years. The expertise of the staff at the Centre is frequently called upon by other collections and breeding programs for advice and help. The following is a list of species bred at the Centre over the years. Those species with a star (*) are those that have laid, but not yet produced fertile eggs. Some birds we have ceased to breed from, such as the European Sparrowhawk and the Barn Owl as there is no justification in continuing to breed them at the moment. However we now have the knowledge and should it ever be needed, the experience is there as a safety net.

 

 

To see a list of birds which have been bred at the Centre, please click here