Delores, our beautiful Cinereous Vulture, passed away 29 December 2022. She was so close to the hearts of many of the team here at the Hawk Conservancy Trust, and to many of you as well. After a period of illness, with heart disease and arthritis, with no signs of recovery, we took the kind, yet difficult decision to put her to a peaceful sleep. At the grand age of 32 years old, just 3 days off her 33rd birthday, we are devastated to have lost her, although blessed that she lived such a long life with us at the Trust.

We''ve had an overwhelming response since her passing of well-wishes and support, and many of you have asked to set up a fund in her memory. As she was such an ambassador for her species, and lived such a long and healthy life, to honour her legacy donations will go towards the care of our birds, helping them to live a long and healthy life, alongside our work towards conserving their wild counterparts.

Delores was a special bird at the Trust; a real character that brightened the day of many passing her aviary, giving a quirky head tilt and keeping an eye on the goings on. She had her firm favourites among the Bird Team and volunteers and would happily bring twigs to her favourites when they came to feed her and say hello. Many will hold fond memories of her cheeky, playful antics too; stealing their brushes when they came in to clean her aviary and pecking at their boot laces. She would delight in emptying buckets of collected loose twigs, leaves and weeds and you may have noticed some patches of un-mown grass in her aviary this was usually where weve worked around her when she didnt want to budge. If a lawn mower was unmanned, Delores would demolish the wheel trims too. All of this was part of her endearing charm, and easily forgiven with a raise of the shoulder feathers and a signature head tilt.

With the beautiful plumage around her neck, likened to a feather boa, her beautiful big eyes, gorgeous coloured feathers, shes been known as quite the glamour puss at the Trust, and we love that she has been a champion in our plight to show how beautiful vultures are. She single-handedly converted many of our visitors to being vulture fans.

It will feel very strange to walk past her aviary and not be welcomed by Delores with a turn of her head or raising of her chest feathers as her greeting. Well miss her collecting sticks and placing them in a pile at the front of the aviary, proudly standing over her nest attempt each year. She touched the hearts of everyone at the Trust, all of whom would stop and chat as they walked by, from the Trusts cleaner walking to work at 6am, to Feathers Restaurant staff on their way to corporate events at the Griffon Rooms. She won the hearts of so many and will be so sorely missed by staff, volunteers and visitors.

You can read our full tribute on our website.