Guidance for static displays of raptors at off-site events.
Hawk Board Guidance is purely Hawk Board’s recommendations on what we consider best practice. It is not legislation and the most up to date legislation on these practices should always be sought.
Static displays of raptors have the potential to be an important promotional and educational opportunity.
The object of any display of birds of prey should be to educate the watching public with emphasis on conservation and welfare.
The following guidance is provided to help ensure that static display operators provide high quality displays with bird welfare and public education at their heart.
In addition this guidance is also provided to help ensure that event organisers book suitable operators.
• Event organisers should familiarise themselves with the laws surrounding static displays and ensure that static display operators meet the legislation.
• Liability insurance to the value of at least £5 million pounds should be held by all operators. The terms of this insurance should be adhered to. Operators are advised that the public handling birds without proper equipment or, for example, birds being placed on people’s heads may invalidate the insurance. It is advised that a printed copy of the insurance documents are taken to the event.
• Operators who meet the criteria for an Animal Activities Licence must hold such a licence and must meet its requirements.
• Operators who hold a Zoo Licence must meet the requirements of the Zoo Licensing Act and the Standards of Modern Zoo Practice at all times including during offsite events.
• A bio-security protocol should be prepared with particular mention of notifiable diseases, particularly Avian Influenza.
All government legislation regarding notifiable diseases must be complied with. The protocol should provide
Risk assessments should be prepared for as many eventualities as practicable. As a minimum there should be risk assessments for:-
• Travel and transport
• Safety of the public/staff during the static display
• Safety during any public handling element of the static display
• Safety of the birds
• A welfare risk assessment should also be prepared. The welfare risk assessment must assess against each of the 5 welfare needs of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. It must state the:
• mitigating measures taken to reduce risks
• people responsible for the above measures
• Written protocols for as many eventualities as practicable should also be prepared. These should accompany the birds whilst on static display and all staff involved should be well versed in their content. These protocols should include such things as:-
• delays/break downs during transport
• lost birds
• extreme weather, including during transport
• injury/illness of a displayed bird
• cleaning procedures and frequency
• management procedures for any human disease risks
• the prevention of, and control of the spread of, disease
• the monitoring and ensuring the health and welfare of the birds
• Static displays generally consist of tethered birds. However birds can also be displayed in mobile aviaries or whilst being held on the fist.
• Very young birds should not be used on static display. It is recommended that birds should not be on display at an event until they are fully feathered.
• Birds should be accustomed to being in front of the public and be calm and settled, with good plumage. Birds should not show any signs of illness or disease. The welfare of the birds must be a priority at all times.
• Static displays should only occur when part of a flying display at the same event in the same location. Birds on the static display element should also be used on the flying part of the package. The operator should ensure that sufficient staff are available to be able to care for the number of birds brought to an event, this includes staff to deal with unexpected situations such as an errant bird. It is suggested that two handlers are the minimum in any situation and can care for a maximum of eight birds. More than eight birds will require more handlers.
• Birds on static display must not be visible to free-flying birds during the flying display.
• Staff should not use aversive physical contact when handling the birds.
• All staff employed to care for the animals must have competence to identify the normal behaviour of the species for which they are caring and to recognise signs of, and take appropriate measures to mitigate or prevent, pain, suffering, injury, disease or abnormal behaviour. Staff should be appropriately dressed and any equipment used by them should be clean, suitable for its intended use and in good order. Staff should also be trained and competent in dealing with members of the public.
Birds must be transported in suitable transport to the event. Transport boxes must be clean and suitable for the purpose. The box must allow the bird to both stand up and turn around. A cadge may be used if supervised. If required, an Animal Transporter Authorisation from APHA should be held and the relevant documentation completed and retained. Details can be found on gov.uk by searching for “Transporting animals in Great Britain”
• Where possible, birds should have their own specific travel box. Where this is not an option, boxes should be cleaned and disinfected after each use and in between birds. Travel boxes should hold one bird.
• As per the Animal Welfare Act, all birds should have access to clean water.
• A supply of food for the birds should be carried and consideration should be given to the safe storage of that food for the duration of the event
• Caracaras, vultures nor secretary birds should be tethered on a static display. Most owls are not suitable to be tethered and we would recommend that they are not used in static displays”
• When tethered birds are on the static display consideration should be given to the placement of small birds relative to larger birds. Large birds of prey will predate on smaller raptors and close tethering can cause high stress levels.
• The static display should have, as a minimum, the following:-
• A stand off barrier capable of preventing the public from touching the birds and capable of preventing dogs or other stray animals from entering.
• A suitable substrate. Often this will be grass. Concrete/ asphalt/bark chips etc are not suitable.
• Shelter - this can be in the form of a marquee/gazebo or other suitable structure. A suitable roof and a solid back and sides are a minimum. This is to keep the birds comfortable in the event of hot or inclement weather and to help them feel safe and secure and so be more settled.
• Birds showing signs of agitation or distress should be removed from the display. Consideration should be given to where agitated birds can be housed. Birds should not be boxed unless in transit or overnight whilst at the event.
• Hoods should not be left on birds for lengthy periods.
• Signs giving the species name and other details should be visible, accurate and legible. Likewise any printed material must be accurate.
• A display should not be used as a platform to sell birds.
• At no time should the birds on static display be left unattended, this includes during the flying display.
• Article 10’s are required for all Annex A species birds on display (check https://www.speciesplus.net for details). Wild disabled birds should not be put on display to the public.
• Any public handling of the birds must be carefully considered and the welfare of the bird and the safety of the public must be of utmost importance. Stroking or other contact with the birds’ feathers should be avoided altogether. Any member of the public who comes into contact with a bird during a handling session must be briefed about how to behave around the bird so as to minimise anxiety, fear and stress in the bird and also for their own safety. Hand-washing facilities should be provided for members of the public who have had contact with the birds or with bird food.
If donations are sought during the static display then it must be clear as to where the donations are going. Charitable status must not be fraudulently claimed.