| |
“For the next five months we will be at the centre every day giving visitors the chance to witness the goshawks rearing their young and to explain what’s happening in the nest.
| |
What's all this about? | |
The RSPB is using cutting-edge technology to show birds of prey in their nests as they breed, hatch eggs, feed chicks and teach young how to fly. A Date With Nature in the New Forest runs throughout the summer. Entry to the Reptile Centre is free although donations for parking are welcome. See all our stories about the goshawks including footage of the mother being blown out of the nest, here Last year, the project run by the RSPB, the New Forest National Park Authority, the Forestry Commission and Carnyx Wild, saw nearly 13,500 people visit the reptile centre to watch the drama unfold. | |
Did you know? | Picture: Sergey Yeliseev on Flickr | Facts about the migrating hobbies |
Hobbies fly from Africa to the UK every May to breed. They are named after the French word for stir because of the way they plough through the air. |
Between 900 to 2200 pairs of hobbies breed in the UK every year, including 12 in the New Forest. Incubation lasts 28-32 days. | |
Courtship takes place in May and June with dramatic aerobatics that involve soaring and diving over breeding territory. |
The size of a kestrel, hobbies are more rakish with long pointed wings, a white half collar and black moustache. | |
They hunt in the early morning or at dusk , lounging in trees during the day. Most of their food is caught in mid-air. | The female spends most time on the nest incubating the eggs but the male will take over to give her a rest. |
Join the RSPB | Carnyx Films | New Forest Gateway | Help save Birds of Prey | The Forestry Commission |