Blair Drummond Safari Park

[Kevin Massey]

Has anyone visited ?

going up to Stirling soon and was wondering if its worth a look in?

[AngelJakki]

We have been there and it has recently changed hands.
They have built all new mews they look good.
When we went they had a buzzard up on soar well over the crow line and came down perfectly to a log was nice to see under controlled conditons.
The whole place is ok though especially if you have kids mine love it and the water fights on the pond in the boats.
The seal show is cool you should have a good day.

[Kevin Massey]

many thanks:supz:

[BrianM]

iam not far from there kev , would you like to pop in for tea n cake ,,,, ps you can bring douglas,as he knows how to behave,, not sure about theresa though . lol

[Gozzhawk]

Good design of mews , clean equipment , baths , sand , display good , knowledgable and fun.
Birds coped well good diet etc...... It's the way ALL places open to public SHOULD be , why they cant i dont know . No begging bowls in sight either.
If its an English chap wi a bit of beef ( soorry dude!) then it should be a good display , can even talk to him if he aint too busy .

[ibrahim hassan]

Its a canny place, had the harris fly too a 'T'perch in the middle of the lake, very picturesque. Last time i was there new owners where about to come in and the guy (the one with a bit of chunk lol) was telling me they where ordering a whole load of new birds. Nice set up and generally a really good day out. The indoor seal shows decent as well.

[Harrisii]

Blairdrummond is a pretty good day out for the family.
lots going on, plenty to do, etc,
lots to see and do, usual, falconry centre is best bit, (if your like me) but if you re like others and critical then thats up to you.

the centre was recently taken over and has been reformed and looks to be in pretty good shape soon. all mews are refited and looking good,
to be honest, its been a long transition and the future is looking good.
not seen a better looking place in a while. the finioshed article looks to be a good un, and to be honest, hard work does prevail....

wishing them well.

[Trappa]

I went to a safari park near stirling years ago-it had a monkey on an island- is this the one?

[AngelJakki]

I went to a safari park near stirling years ago-it had a monkey on an island- is this the one?
Yeah thats the one

[Goldie]

Kev, you know i wouldn't steer you wrong and knowing you personaly, my advice to you would be ............forget it.

Jim

[Kevin Massey]

Kev, you know i wouldn't steer you wrong and knowing you personaly, my advice to you would be ............forget it.

Jim

Thanks jim

[Osiris]

Has anyone visited ?

going up to Stirling soon and was wondering if its worth a look in?

Get in touch with Agent D.
Sure he's still there........................

[Kevin Massey]

Get in touch with Agent D.
Sure he's still there........................

and gozzhawk so ive been informed

cheers

[Sighthound]

Kev, you know i wouldn't steer you wrong and knowing you personaly, my advice to you would be ............forget it.

Jim

ditto

[Trappa]

Yeah thats the one
When we went we sailed round the island on a boat, and some of us were given apples to throw to the monkey. It was very funny but a bit rotten really but we all just tried to hit the monkey with our apples! I watched the next sailing and it was exactly the same, people just tried to hit the monkey with their apples! I bet that was one pi**ed off monkey!- im guessing that this doesnt happen now!

[AngelJakki]

No they throw the food on the island. There are a few there now and they are hoping they will mate naturaly.
Mass it depends what you are going for.
If you are just wanting somewhere for the kids to run around pet some animals, see a few birds fly, see the seal show, go on the paddle boats and drive round the compound it is ok. Like I said my kids love it they go about 3-4 times a year.
Its clean the foods ok and the prices aren't to steep.

[Grey_Squirrel_Hawker]

When we went we sailed round the island on a boat, and some of us were given apples to throw to the monkey. It was very funny but a bit rotten really but we all just tried to hit the monkey with our apples! I watched the next sailing and it was exactly the same, people just tried to hit the monkey with their apples! I bet that was one pi**ed off monkey!- im guessing that this doesnt happen now!

do they still have the wire mesh on the side of the boat that faces the island? the first time i went with my school, the chimps picked up rocks and threw them at the boat quite violently! hence the wire. but they have never done it the other times ive been since.

[Agent D.]

hi,
obviously been following the thread with some interest as 1 might expect,
yep so i'm dave and run the bop centre at the safari park, i have been running it for just over a year now since it came back inhand to the park after being franchised out to a Falkirk falconry.
on the bop side we have made MANY changes for the better (housing, diet, consitancy in training and have considerably improved the demos). Tonnes of hard work went into the my first year there, from which GOZZHAWK can take credit. It is my first pro falconry job since graduating from uni, where i spent the majority of my time training my gsp 4 my tiercel (running around fields became too much for me) after finishing uni i decided i still wanted to work with bop so took the job.

we put on 3 demo's a day, usually 3 birds in each. in the first year me n gozz have sold off a lot of existing stock and bought in new stock and had much fun training.
1 common kes; flying to the lure and is doing well.
1 eeo, standard
1 ferrug, launched out of release box 1/2k away
1 common buz, as above and she is awesome, consistant 100ft+ vertical stoops, (v good reputation)
various HH, all good.
some good lure bound and baloon trained falcons (lugger, perelan, grysaker, lanner)
barn and tawny owl.

still a long way to go to get the centre where i want it but trying hard and the hard work is paying off, the accomodation is improving and we're updating our furniture etc. but i don't controll the budget so have spent what little there is on the areas i fell are most important, namely housing diet and furniture. we don't have a huge collection (14) but if it aint moulting it gets flow and in demo, i personnaly hate large collections of hawks which seldome get flown.

personally i'd recommend the park, it is getting money spent on it and therefor improving all the time, come on a sunny day cos its got no real indoor features bar sealion show, which incidently is very amusing.
free carcoal and a bbq is available so bring a 6pack and a load of raw meat. once you've paid to get in all amusements and shows are free. there's a mega sand pit and fort for the kids, resturant and big safari\pets, petting farm section.

i've got some awesome lads working with me who are very commited, skilled and self motivated, cheers lads. we've just all passed our LANTRA too, think its a good thing; it took a day and was dead easy, however we are now on a list somewhere which some1 may use to defend our sport.

personally see centres as high public profile, so make a point of ensuring all those things that make us look rosey are done, no overgrown beaks, content hawks, freash clean daily baths etc etc etc dont talk bollocks in displays; as centres i consider are very much the forefront of where people make up their mind if they object or agree with hawks held captivity.

make sure you say hi to me, always up 4 a chat.

kindest regards folks
dave.

[Agent D.]

almost 4got, yes the chimps still launch whatever they can find and the boats, they are awesome beasts and well worth a look....

[Barbary Boy]

gosh! all lantra qualified! flying all those birds! i might as wel give up?

[Sighthound]

Sounds good Agent D. I was not aware the Falconry was under new management. I have visited the park several times in the past and found the falconry very poor. Good luck to you.

[Agent D.]

thanks, admittedly the website is poor but i'm on the case and should be better come start of sept, if the phez hawking doesn't get in the way:lol:

[Agent D.]

If its an English chap wi a bit of beef ( soorry dude!) then it should be a good display.

n how many pounds have you put on since parahawkin??? ur hardly trim yourself, fat chuff. lol.

[Gozzhawk]

Admittedly , the season cant come quick enough , was out wi iz for some outdoor action the other day , ye know!

[Agent D.]

gosh! all lantra qualified! flying all those birds! i might as wel give up?

please don't you bring so much. if you give up what will happen to that big chip on your shoulder????:confused:

[Pitbull]

good going Dave.


Loved the buzzard, and what you do with it. And with the loch as a back drop its braw.

If you take in the day as a general punter, rather than a critic then you should have a fun day all round weather permitting.These kind of places are designed for the kids with the adults tagging along.

[PaulWar3]

What happened to the monkeys that used to take your car apart
while you where sitting in it?
I spent 1/2 hour putting my car back together after I came out of the drive round compound.LOL

[Grey_Squirrel_Hawker]

What happened to the monkeys that used to take your car apart
while you where sitting in it?
I spent 1/2 hour putting my car back together after I came out of the drive round compound.LOL


they havent been there for years, i read in a newspaper that they had contracted hepatitis b and the risk of it passing onto humans was to great so they all got put down, someone correct me if im wrong

[BrianM]

they havent been there for years, i read in a newspaper that they had contracted hepatitis b and the risk of it passing onto humans was to great so they all got put down, someone correct me if im wrong


if you gonna shag a monkey you get what you deserve in my book ,, lol

[Grey_Squirrel_Hawker]

:lol: if you gonna shag a monkey you get what you deserve in my book ,, lol

i think it was a risk of someone geting bitten or scratched and it passing on that way

[BrianM]

:lol:

i think it was a risk of someone geting bitten or scratched and it passing on that way


erm , i know that:roll: :lol:

[PaulWar3]

they havent been there for years, i read in a newspaper that they had contracted hepatitis b and the risk of it passing onto humans was to great so they all got put down, someone correct me if im wrong

Thanks gsh
Still a great day out for the kids. Hav'nt been since the new lads took over the falconry,
so will have to try and get there in the summer.

Paul

[Agent D.]

our chimps were on stv this evening 18:00hrs. some dude did reserch about women or something??? recond they prefured men with a few more wrinkles so stv came along and filmed our chimps. supprised they didn't get rocks or sheeet thrown at them, as is the norm!!!

[TLB]

Took the family to Blair Drummond today, for my son's 6th birthday. Also was there to see a old face from the past, Dave(Agent D). Great setup, very clean and well planned out and the birds are in first class condition. He has some great idea's for future demos and seems to have the supported needed to get there. Very enjoyable display also, well done Dave and his team.

ATB
Tom

P.S
The rest of the park, is good family fun also.:supz:

[Agent D.]

Cheers Tommy, Good to catch up, rock on the hunting season! maybe return the favour in letting me watch when you skid your golden eagle about this winter? we'll try and get some hunting organised.

[TLB]

Sounds Good:supz:

Tom

[Taowolf]

Hey Guys,

Knowing dave personally and having met some of his team. I know just how much effort goes into the center. And with little money he has got to spend he has done us falconers proud. As he says these centers are the frontline for the public to understand and respect our beloved sport and to be honest i think he does a pretty dam good job.

So yeah its well worth a look, Barn owl does it for me what a star!!!

[PaulWar3]

Hey Guys,

Knowing dave personally and having met some of his team. I know just how much effort goes into the center. And with little money he has got to spend he has done us falconers proud. As he says these centers are the frontline for the public to understand and respect our beloved sport and to be honest i think he does a pretty dam good job.

So yeah its well worth a look, Barn owl does it for me what a star!!!

Totally agree Cameron

Was there with the family a few weeks back, absolute cracking setup. Dave and Colin said the stars of the show were the buzzard and the kestral, which were'nt flying when we were there, so will have to try and get back later in the year

Anyone with kids will love the rest of Blair Drummond, especially the Sea Lion show.

P.S This barn owl

[Agent D.]

P.S This barn owl

No thats my favorite kestrel:rolleyes:

Thanks guys much appreciated, credit is due to colin (mansars) and Ross (icarus fell), without whome the centre n stock would be far worse off.

this season we have put emphasis on infrastructure, building works etc etc, next season (march 08) we will be improving\increasing stock and the displays WILL be awesome. :cool:

[Kevin Massey]

I know just how much effort goes into the center.!

Its not always a rosey Deal .... harder work than I ever imagined....all weathers....365 days a year job.....sod that for a game of soldiers:supz:

[Taowolf]

Mr Massey, I think the center is top notch and a cracking day out for all. So the decision is yours my friend. If your trip brings you to perthshire would be good to met a fellow falconer and get the crack.:drinkers: :drinkers:

Regards Cam

[Kevin Massey]

Mr Massey, I think the center is top notch and a cracking day out for all. So the decision is yours my friend. If your trip brings you to perthshire would be good to met a fellow falconer and get the crack.:drinkers: :drinkers:

Regards Cam

This is an old thread...Didnt manage to get there through time constraints...however I will pop in next time I am up defiantly:supz:

[MickeyDredd]

Mr Massey, If your trip brings you to perthshire would be good to met a fellow falconer and get the crack.:drinkers: :drinkers:

Regards Cam

Jeez Cameron

please dont encourage the likes of him to visit our wonderful part of the planet, keep them down in the floodplains where they belong!!!! :butthead:

[Kevin Massey]

Jeez Cameron

please dont encourage the likes of him to visit our wonderful part of the planet, keep them down in the floodplains where they belong!!!! :butthead:

You can Bog off and all.....

[MickeyDredd]

You can Bog off and all.....

I am going to tomorrow mate!!!! :supz: :supz:

[Pendleside]

I am going to tomorrow mate!!!! :supz: :supz:

hope it ****es down .:cry:

[MickeyDredd]

hope it ****es down .:cry:

40 degrees C Pikey, the rain evaporates before it reaches even my lofty bonce!! ;)


anyway, miles of topic now, Mods please edit!!!!! :D