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The focus in 2020 will be on developing the educational facilities at Higher Ground Raptors, building more free-flight facilities and improving some of the existing infrastructure, long overdue! There are many wonderful veterinary students who come to HGRC for their official extra-mural placements throughout the year, in addition to the many raptor rehabilitators who share their stories and knowledge. To encourage and support their learning I would like to augment the classroom with equipment such as a data projector, white board and computer.

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An extension on the free flight aviary that will facilitate accommodation specifically owls, smaller raptors and also allow the birds to be caught more easily from the large free flight aviary.

As of November 2019 this facility was completed and became functional . The extension honours the memory of four people whose generous bequests enabled its completion: Chris Smith, Tony and Loisette Lewis and James Fairfax AO AC will never be forgotten out here and their kindness and belief in my work will always be remembered.

 

Permanent plantings for screenings, revegetation works and provision of enrichment foliage, particularly for the big forest owls who need to be able to hide   - Cost $1500

With gratitude to Georgia and Brett Cameron, a fellow Churchill Fellowship alumni who have provided an extremely generous donation to kickstart this new project.

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Commercial freezer to enable bird food to be purchased and acquired in bulk and freeze more economically, currently I need to defrost my very old 3 domestic freezers frequently and scramble to find the right food.

Hooray! as of July end 2018 this has been kindly and generously donated by:  Matty and Cass of Eschalot Restaurant, Berrima

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Shade cloth replacement - cost $2000

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Work tools and dedicated shed to store work tools - $1,000

Over the course of 2019 enough money has been donated to almost complete this project. The shed is partially up and tool purchase has commenced. A great example of how every dollar adds up!

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An upgrade to the Vetafarm CCTV system. Sadly, in my attempts to shop locally, the original system was not installed correctly and is constantly prone to lightning strikes resulting in severe damage requiring replacement to both the cameras and the entire electronic system in one case. The last time this happened, the lightning tracked up into my house and blew up my computer monitor and modem. The copper cabling needs to be replaced with optic fibre cabling.

 

Hooray! During July 2018, Vetafarm have completely revamped the CCTV system and there is no longer a need to panic every time we have thunder and lightning, however.....with the upgrade in facilities more money needs to be raised to update and install more cameras at a cost of $500 each.

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In April 2020, John Waters and friends held the FireAid2020 concert in the Southern Highlands and as a result contributed funds that have paid for cameras in the free-flight aviary extension as well as another necessary upgrade of the CCTV hardware.

 

The challenge now is to raise the money to extend the CCTV system into the new large free-flight facility.

The total will be about $4000 - $5000 including labour and cabling.

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Thank you so much Michael Dandridge, who heard me talking to Richard Feidler on the ABC and straight away donated the money to purchase the three cameras for the new free-flight aviary.

 

We now have four more aviaries that require cameras! 😉

  

The building of a training facility where vet students on official extra-mural placements from around Australia can stay. It will also accommodate wildlife carer training. Both uses will mean I no longer need to accommodate students in my own home - cost $17,500

Stage 1 has commenced and the small learning cabin has been completed. Many thanks to Pru Goward, former Liberal MP who helped facilitate a donation that got this project off the ground.

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Two small heat panels for Wedge-tailed eagle ICU - $350

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Gratitude to Bill Hanson for his generous donation which has allowed the purchase of a heat panel. Thanks Bill from the eagles and from me!

 

Additional small water tanks x2 and plumbing - cost $2500

 

Sprinkler system to cool birds down - cost $200 per aviary

This is required now more than ever during these times of excessive heat and fire risk.

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Really excited to be able to say that thanks to the generosity of the Humane Society International Australia, an entire new water system including professional sprinklers on all aviaries made out of copper pipe, massive waer storage systems with new pumps and lines and a water tank catching water from the education cabin.

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Pond for Sea-eagles in the free flight aviary. I have observed, thanks to the Vetafarm CCTV system, just how often Sea-eagles like to bathe when free flying. They are currently using a child's wading pool and I need something built in, deeper and easier to clean - cost $4000

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Enormous thanks to the followers of Sea Eagle Cam and SE21 who initiated the fundraising for this project and made an invaluable contribution by kickstarting this fundraiser and contributing the amount above. As the project moved on, it was decided to make the pond even bigger and better and more members of the public embraced the project and raised the required amount. Aug 31, 2019 FB post.

I would like especially to acknowledge the help of Poppy, Archie and Jonty who performed beautifully whilst busking and raising money for this project. Kids, you are fabulous!

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A new free-flight aviary reqires a  new eagle pond

North Queensland Wildlife Trust Fund have kickstarted this project will enable it to commence in July 2020. A little more fundraising and we should have it completed by the end of winter, remember every dollar matters as witnessed by the sea-eagle pond.