Barry & Luce Macdonald - Raptor Experience Wales             Machynlleth, Powys SY20 8RR Tel: (01654) 700317 email: click HERE    About us     Barry Macdonald is from Machynlleth and has extensive knowledge in the field of Nature Conservation, Falconry and Tourism. He has worked for the R.S.P.B, North Wales Wildlife Trust and the London Wildlife Trust in the UK. He has also worked as a Field Ornithologist in The Gambia, South Africa and Israel and to date has led over 40 Wildlife Tours in The Gambia, as well as Overland Safaris to 14 countries in Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Zaire, Botswana and South Africa. Luce Macdonald is from Llandudno, North Wales, and has had a deep interest in Animal Behavior and environmental issues since childhood. Through her studies she has gained valuable experience in the care and management of endangered and exotic species, such as Mammals, Birds and Reptiles, qualifying with distinction in animal care management. During the years to follow she was involved in the management for a number of various species, including Brown Bear, Prezwalskis horse (Prehistoric), Bactrian Camels, and various Birds of Prey such as the Black Eagle, Golden Eagle and Andean Condors. As experienced Raptor and animal care professionals, we assume countless responsibilities to maintain and continually update the management of our diverse collection of birds of prey, with respect to the sensitive needs of conservation programmes, research, and education. Over the last few decades the use of birds of prey in free flying and hands on demonstrations has proved to have a great relevence, as it is important for visitors to experience any collection using raptors and owls for such pupose, that the standards of captive management are that of  the highest and provide educational value. Conservation of Falconry and its ancient techniques interlinked with education and research has become the main justification for the existence of modern day falconry and bird of prey centres. They have become sanctuaries . These centers are only a small part of the wider conservation issue of raptors in general and collaboration between people working in the field of research and those working on captive breeding programmes has led to threatened species being successfully reintroduced from these collections into the wild. The practice of Falconry and hawking provides many an insight into animal behavior not otherwise available to the biologist. We need to promote Falconry, the image of healthy well adjusted birds and "demonstrate" how they actually live in the wild. Hence our name Raptor Experience. All our birds are captive bred and are not taken from the wild.