any ideas ?

[Mick]

hi im looking for info/ideas on how to go about setting up a bop rescue centre and help much appreciated


mick

[HawkMan]

Hello m8 might sound a silly question ,but how long have you been into falconry for ?????
There,s a few guys on here who run rescue centres ,ive met a few and its hard going and its going to get worse with this bird flu pandemic ?????
Hope you find what your looking for .
All the best and pleased to meet you .
Jb

[Mick]

been doing falconry for 5 years and i know before you all start im still learning but i didnt say i was going to definatly do it just looking for info for now wont be for long time yet

[Pitbull]

if you dont want a life then its a good option i suppose :lol:

[Mick]

lol pitbull if i didnt have to work i wouldnt i would be with the birds all day

[Sprout]

Not exactly an easy question to answer - you'll need land to build aviaries/hospital quarters, staff to run it, vehicles to pick up birds, good vet contacts and experience in how to deal with injured birds of prey. Oh and LOTS of money to do it properly. Try doing a first aid course first and speak to your local avian vet - might be able to help.

[GregMik]

Moved to the correct forum

[StormRider]

I set up such a facility after getting numerous birds handed in from the RSPCA, the Police and the Council. I get birds in from as far as Yorkshire right up to Glasgow, and I am based in South Tyneside. It got to the point where I just couldnt do it anymore from my home due to aviaries, treatment rooms, etc.
I set out looking for a spot of land or buildings that were well out the way of the public but was close to a vet who had raptor experience. This took forever to find. I eventually struck lucky when I received a very big sponsor deal from a big chocolate bar manufacturere. They donated a bit of land and a number of buildings to the project, which are currently being rebuilt and altered with sponsorship from a number of other companies. The hardest part of the whole project was the planning aspect. I assumed that the local authority would grant permission on the "aAAARRHHHH" factor. I was very wrong. I have eventually got permission but with a lot of fight.
The brilliant thing about my location is that I have access to a full time vet who is brilliant. The cost of drugs and certain treatments can soar depending on the time of year.
All I will say is that you have to approach this subject from a needs must view. If you are in a position where you are being inundated with birds then maybe there is a need for another facility. If you are looking to do it because you have an interest in Bops and feel that you might get in some birds then dont bother.
Everyone who helps me are volunteers, including myself. I dont do this for financial gain. Infact I have never used it to obtain good birds either. Most birds that I have rehabilitated that could not go back to the wild have been rehomed at other centres or organisations. I will not allow the public within the facility for obvious reasons, and by law I am not allowed to let the public view any birds anyway. The biggest expense so far has been kitting out the tretament centre section with the necessary bits.
I hope some of this helps.
STU

[Mick]

storm rider

i wasnt going to be doing it to get good birds or for money i was wanting to do it because i love been around birds and i was thinking if i could provide a place where injured / unwanted birds could be take and given everything they needed from good care quality food and generally a good life

[StormRider]

I didnt say you were mate. I was only giving you some advice, which is what you asked for. All I was saying is that you have to have a need for such a facility before you build it. There is no point in doing it if you do not get birds in. If you are busy with it then go for it. Good luck mate.
STU

[FalconryMews101]

You'll need a lot of patience, planning and money (to go with knowledge)! But aside from that all the best.

[Hells99]

I think your biggest problem is going to be where you get funding from (unless you are fabulously,stinking rich - in which case please marry me! :) ). If you're not going to admit the public it won't be earning any income unless you can get private sponsorship or you can get registered as a charity (which I understand takes time and perseverance). By the time you've forked out vets fees and food, you're talking a lot of money! Imagine if you get 5 birds in one week that require veterinary treatment. But all power to your elbow, mate if you do it :supz:

[Mick]

thanks for all the replies i was kind of hoping to getpeople that already run a centre to reply and try to point me in the right direction but still time yet

[Hells99]

www.raptorfoundation.org.uk

This is a charitable organisation in St Ives near Cambs. You could try arranging to meet the owners, it's very successful with around 250 birds.

[Mick]

cheers hells

[Coedhirion]

You could try Raptor Rescue, they will give you info. They have people all over the country, I shoudn't say it but some are very good and some ...well not so. Like the tawny owl now doing display work "was found covered in yolk, just out the egg and brought up as an imprint" No rude comments to me please, that is quoted from some one who "rescued" it

[StormRider]

thanks for all the replies i was kind of hoping to getpeople that already run a centre to reply and try to point me in the right direction but still time yet
Mick, If you read my reply then you will see that I am already doing this very near to you. I have given you advice on how I dealt with getting started. It isnt easy, but I only started beacause I was getting a lot of birds in from all over and I did not have the physical space at home to cope. To date I have not yet had to keep a bird permanently because all wild birds get released when better (unless they die), and all captive birds get rehomed to knowledgable people. I do all of this on the back of owning and operating 2 companies, dealing with my own birds and running a family. I would have thought being a chef you would not have the time to do such stuff. Volunteers are a great help, but I am very choosy as to who I can trust. I trust noone.
STU