With over 40 million views on a single Instagram post alone Angola, possibly the most famous Secretary Bird, is being thrown a week-long Birthday Bash to celebrate his eighth ‘hatchday’.
Visitors to the Hawk Conservancy Trust near Andover, Hampshire, this May half term will be able to join in the celebrations and watch Angola make daily appearances in the ‘Wings of Africa flying display’ where his starring role sees him demonstrating his species’ unique and literally stunning snake-stomping abilities. It’s a fast and powerful technique to stun or kill venomous prey with forces up to 20kg (five times the bird’s own bodyweight) and at speeds faster than the blink of an eye (15 milliseconds).
With the attraction’s summer timetable now in full swing, the Hawk Conservancy Trust is making Angola’s birthday celebrations the icing on the cake for already jam-packed days out and they come just after the Trust was announced as a TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice Award winner. The accolade recognises consistently exceptional reviews and means the unique visitor experience is ranked in the top 10% of TripAdvisor’s worldwide listings.
Alongside three daily bird of prey flying displays, children’s activities, trails, tractor trailer rides and bird-themed playground fun, there will be special changes to the Angola’s ‘Wings of Africa display’, daily competitions to win Secretary Bird prizes and even birthday-themed specials available in Feathers Restaurant.
As a result of Angola’s internet stardom, the Trust is expecting the week to be extremely popular with families enjoying the school break so recommends pre-booking tickets via its website at www.hawk-conservancy.org
The Hawk Conservancy Trust is dedicated to conservation and research projects for birds of prey both in the UK and overseas and funds its charitable work largely through the operation of its bird of prey visitor centre at Weyhill near Andover, Hampshire. Consistently ranked as TOP on things to do in Hampshire on Trip Advisor’s traveller’s ranking, it is also home to the National Bird of Prey Hospital™ and gives visitors the chance to experience rare birds of prey up close – watching world-class flying displays in three completely different arenas or simply enjoying its 22 acres of woodland and wildflower meadow.