#7 Learning the ropes

Late June 2018: It's two years since Anya's first tree climb for a hawk. She's back in the harness again this summer, and Ed interviews her in a report for the local community radio station, Claremorris Community Radio: www.ccr946.ie.

At midsummer, the moment finally arrived for Anya to climb the tree. What happened next surprised us. And what happened after that. And after that too. It's taken a month to get this episode edited and finished, but here it is.

This midsummer night's episode finds us taking a deep breath and gathering our thoughts. We are only a day or two from attempting the wild take. In the forest, we and the sparrowhawks get closer than ever.

In this episode we venture out with workmate and arborist Denis, who shows Anya how to climb spruce trees. A new hobby! We also take Denis to look at the nest itself to ask him, Is it doable?

In this episode we discuss a question from a listener, and you get to hear us swear in excitement about another significant discovery.

A turning point in the journey, the intense beauty of which is a bit overwhelming.

In this episode, we spend a dark and lonely night on the island in the hope of meeting a hawk. But even back gardens can be scary, strange places. We face the fear, and find mysteries high and low. Book mentioned: 'Tracks and Signs of the Birds of Britain and Europe' (2nd ed.) by Roy Brown, John Ferguson, Michael Lawrence and David Lees, 2003, Christopher Helm / A&C Black. Film mentioned: 'The Secret Life of the Sparrowhawk' by Dave Culley, narrated by Chris Packham: sparrowhawk-island.co.uk.

We're deep in the woods this episode, where the search for nest sites gathers pace. What do you find when you sit and wait; what happens when you track and follow?

Yes, we got the licence - but what do we really think we're getting ourselves in for? Also in this episode: highs and lows in the search for nest sites, tips from an old hand, and how falconry can help you in the boardroom.

In our first full episode we talk about our recent first attempts to locate possible sparrowhawk nest sites.