Raptors & Ropes - What I Have Learnt from Working with Birds of Prey Around the World
Sustainability and Environment RKEI (Research and Knowledge Exchange Institute) Public Lecture Series
From the rainforests of the Philippines to the frozen cliffs of Iceland and the wild landscapes of Alaska, this talk takes you behind the scenes of studying some of the world’s most spectacular birds of prey. Drawing on over 20 years of experience as a raptor specialist and licensed BTO surveyor, I’ll share stories from working with rare Philippine Eagles, filming Bald Eagles in Alaska for Disney+, and studying Gyr Falcons in Iceland, alongside my work with birds of prey across the UK. Much of this work involves reaching places that are anything but easy to access — climbing trees, abseiling cliffs and using ropes to reach remote nest sites. I’ll explain what it takes to safely study these incredible birds, the challenges involved, and some of the unexpected moments that come with working at the sharp end of raptor conservation. As founder of the UK charity Raptor Aid and a member of several raptor study groups, I’ll also explore why this work matters and what we can learn from getting closer to some of the world’s most powerful and fascinating predators. Raptors & Ropes is a mix of wildlife, adventure, conservation and real-world field stories — from the ground to the treetops and cliff faces.
School of Education 018
Exton Park is centrally located in Chester, and accessible via the M53, A483, A41, A56, and public transport from the city centre.
Address
University of Chester, Parkgate Road, Chester, CH1 4BJThe Greenway Gate, accessible between 7am – 9pm with your University pass, is located at the back of the overflow car park and is the nearest point of access to the Millennium Greenway cycle path that connects to routes throughout the city.
Bache train station is a 15-minute walk from Exton Park and Chester railway station is a 20-minute walk. Arriva 1A and Arriva 1 run frequent services that stop with a short walk to Exton Park. All three Park and Ride routes, PR1, PR2 and PR3 have connections within walking distance to Exton Park.
Parking on campus is limited, so we recommend using public transport and/or walking if possible.