A pair of television presenters have hosted a 'Night of Nature' to support bird of prey conservation.
Attended by over 500 visitors, the Night of Nature was hosted by Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin at the Hawk Conservancy Trust based near Andover.
The event offered a mix of education and entertainment from both the hosts as well as special guests and the charity's bird-flying team.
The event illustrated the links between flora and fauna, insects, small mammals and birds of prey, and emphasised the importance of conservation of wild habitats and creatures.
One segment showcased Mr Packham's skill in animal poo identification.
Meanwhile, Ms McCubbin simulated being deceased to demonstrate the feeding behaviour of three resident hooded vultures, Sundance Kid, Bonbon and Fagin, giving insight into the behaviour of these often misunderstood creatures.
Dr Zoe Randle, Butterfly Conservation’s senior surveys officer, demonstrated how to identify and encourage butterflies and moths in our own outdoor spaces.
In an amusing twist, Dr Randle disguised Ms McCubbin as a blue tit to demonstrate the puss moth caterpillar’s liquid-squirting defence mechanism.
Flying displays showcased various birds including Scout the kestrel, Chaucer the lanner falcon, Charlie the barn owl and Kiara the Steller’s sea eagle.
Megan McCubbin with Chaucer the lanner falcon (Image: Gemma Warr)
Throughout the event, the trust’s artist in residence, Alex McGarry, live-painted a scene alongside 'Reg's Wildflower Meadow', which would become the main prize of the raffle for the night.
Visitors contributed to the fundraising efforts through the purchase of event tickets, raffle tickets, memberships and refreshments.
These funds will finance the Hawk Conservancy Trust's work including research and conservation initiatives both within the UK and abroad.
Open to visitors almost every day of the year, the Trust offers a chance to see amazing birds and spectacular flying displays.
Visitors can also enjoy 22 acres of woodland and wildflower meadow.
All visits directly fund the work of the Hawk Conservancy Trust, which carries out critical work in conservation, research and education about birds of prey and their habitats.
To find out more about visitor centre opening times and the Trust’s many conservation projects, visit www.hawk-conservancy.org
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