There may have been owls flying in and out of the Kent Life, over the years, but now a parliament of 12 have come home to roost – permanently.

Tucked behind the hoppers’ huts at the farming attraction are 10 aviaries – and if you’re not sure where to find them, you soon will as you’ll hear their calls from quite a distance.

The Kent Owl Academy is a new addition to the site’s resident animals that includes donkeys, geese and alpacas. The academy is managed by Mollie King, whose father, Nigel King, runs the Imperial Bird of Prey Academy in Essex, and is one of the top falconry demonstrators in the country.

“I have worked with birds since before I knew I was working with them! I grew up around them really,” said Mollie.

“They all have personalities. They come when I call them, they talk when I talk. Now I have been given the chance to manage the academy at Kent Life.”

The owls are of different species, with individual needs and likes and dislikes.

Mollie does admit to having favourites. Her No.1 is Ted, an Indian scops owl, who is the smallest of all the breeds at the academy. At just five months old he lives with a male friend, who he was raised with, in the aviary creche.

Her other favourite is Dre a great grey owl. The breed is the tallest owl in the world and seeing Dre for the first time is an impressive sight.

He has piercing yellow eyes,is very vocal and flies at the front of the cage when he hears Mollie’s voice. His eyes give an indication of his behaviour in the wild: with yellow eyes he would naturally be out in the day, while orange eyes mean an owl is around from dusk till dawn. Black eyes mean they are naturally nocturnal – like Ted – although in captivity they adapt to the timings they are kept to and so are all awake most of the day.

Mollie is keen to get the birds flying and wants as many visitors to Kent Life, near Maidstone, to see the experience. There will be flying demonstrations at peak times, including school holidays and bank holidays and in November experiences will go on sale where people get to fly the birds themselves.

“The birds are really well trained so people needn’t worry,” said Mollie. “The shows give the birds experience and it gives people the chance to see what it’s like to have a bird land on you.” The owls are meat eaters and fed their daily allowance, as well as being meticulously cared for, with their aviaries cleaned out daily.

They are also good alarms – they make a lot of noise is a fox appears near their home.

Kent Life marketing manager Sarah Hirsch said: “We have never had owls here before. The opportunity will be amazing for people to get close to them.”

SEE THE OWLS

You can see the owls at Kent Life in flight this weekend. There will be three shows a day from Saturday, October 29 to Monday, October 31 at Brundle’s Big Top as part of the attraction’s half term and Halloween fun.

Visitors will be able to get up close to the magnificent birds and learn about their diets, habitats and habits.

Kent Life is at Lock Lane, Sandling, near Maidstone – just off Junction 7 of the M20.
For details visit kentlife.org.uk or call 01622 763936.

To book an experience, or for more information about the Kent Owl Academy, visit kentowlacademy.com

The owls at Kent Life have a new neighbour.

Shilo the meerkat lives nextdoor to the aviaries, and is awaiting the imminent arrival of a girlfriend, so the pair can begin their own colony.

Despite only just moving into his new home, the friendly chap likes to come up to the window of his enclosure to say hello.