In the last issue we did an article , giving some top tips to tracking.  I have always said that a tracker lurks within every man woman and child. I have been gobsmacked by the responses to the article, and inundated with questions about tracking. It goes without saying that often our clients are nature lovers. I have always wondered, just how we could appeal to those who love travel and adventure. It seems that we have struck a chord with adventure travellers.
After all, our wildlife tracking course, gives you all the tools for you to use when tracking either in the UK or abroad.
How cool is that, wherever you are in the world you will be able to track wildlife, animals, mantrack and even escaped macaw

Today I was out on my mountain bike, checking track traps when I heard a very unusual bird call. At first I thought it was a jay. Straight away I ditched my bike and did a mega quick zone-in. Within a couple of minutes I found the culprit. Looking up into the tree I could see a Macau parrot. I must admit I did have to do a double take.
I called the police who called the RSPCA, who couldnt get close enough to net the escapee.
Every time the parrot flew up out of the canopy it was instantly mobbed by corvids, when it dived back into the woods the ground feeders did a fast plough.
Looks like it might be there for a while. It was feeding well on buds and seemed to be enjoying its freedom.

As trackers we are always using bird language and dynamics to get us closer to the action. I have used it all over the world with pin-point accuracy.  Using it in the UK is difficult, because , sometimes the horizons are quite small.
Using it in the woods takes a lot of practice, but it pays off.
As dark set in I left the parrot, and will return to see how it is doing.
When I was a teenager I had a Whalbergs eagle, that did the same thing, just decided to be awkward and didnt want to come down and for several days flew to the same trees within a half mile.
Finger crossed the macau will be retur

 I have written one of the hardest articles ever! "How to track". The content is easy, because I use tracking  skills every day. Myself , my tracking instructors ,tranee tracking instructors and  some of the advanced trackers teach how to track on every course. From tactical tracking, search and rescue tracking and wildlife tracking I end every course feeeling as though I could have done with another week of teaching, just to get the basics in.
However," How To Track", in under 400 words was a tough task.....watch out for the tracking article in Wanderlust Magazine.

Our most primevil sense is smell. We use it to detect toxic gases and dangerous food. We can discern between the smell of dead animals and more specifically what kind of animal. ( dead sheep smells different to to a dead deer or pig)
Our nose is working 24/7 detecting pheremones and other more discreet scents. I am always amazed by the images that a smell can evoke. Just look at the supermarket candles, white linen, bamboo, vanilla , the list goes on.
For those of you have been on Shadowhawk tracking Courses, I will have shown you how to mechanically improve your sense of smell. Then there is a twist in the tail. I wont go into detail, lest I ruin it for those who are yet to come on tracking courses.
I am very pleased to announce that we have been talking with a well known author, who has written a book, that features a tracker as the main character, who ends up using his sense of smell to track.

After many years, i think I am beginning to understand the nothern hemishpere. I come from a land of orange, dry and dusty soil, where the sun rises and sets about the same time every day. There is  no real winter and the animals set their clocks by the rains.
I thought winter in the UK would start and finish on set dates( give or take a week or two). The weather is proving to be a test, not just for me, but wildlife to.  I have noticed the heartbeat of the forest is where it is usually in April.
This an ideal time of year to track wildlife. The soil( at least in the West Country) is  moist making ideal condition for track traps.
Although the tracks traps are good, and because we can see more due to low vegetation density, it also means they can see us. So this is a good chance to practice stalking. Stalking wildlife is always fun. While you practice your stalking, be mindful of not stepping on fragrant plants. The crack of a twig, linked with a freshy trod on wild garlic will alarm the wildlife. Remember all those points about stalking and camouflage, they are at their most needed this time of year.

It is the time of year when I get lots of calls and emails about big cats in the Britain. I look at every picture and record every sighting, placing pins on the map.
I am also looking at other factors that have not been studied previously, and need more data.
So, if you have seen anything, got pictures or other evidence of big cats please email.
More data is crucial.
I have been out and about recently and have got a picture off one of camera traps, the picture is convincing, and because I put a scale in front of the camera trap, there is a good indication of size.
I need to build a bigger picture around the evidence, and soon as I have more I will let you all know.

Wow, what a brilliant show. Lots of eager adventurers, all looking for that holiday with a difference. Seems to me that people are looking for more than sea and sand, they are are looking for holidays that will enrich their lifestyle.
Met some amazing people, including an intrepid lover of India and tigers. A couple of years ago she came to one of talks and took my advice, she headed off to Corbet National Park to track tigers on the foothills of the Himalayas. Anyone who has been there knows that you have to work hard to see tigers in that area, but she got lucky.
She was so impressed that I think she will come on every Shadowhawk tracking holiday.
Big names were talking there, inlcuding Kate Humble, Trevor Macdonald and many others.
I had an audience with Ian Maxwell and Wanderlust magazine editor. It is much easier being interviewed, and Dan was a real pro, and knew how to dig deep. I am always asked, what is the most difficult I have ever tracked, this time round I gave the audience bit of a shock.
 We could have done with another hour to answer all those tracking questions.
I came away from the show with re-newed faith in the human race. Yes we all want to go further, and deeper, and closer to animals, but at least I know from the peope I met, responsible travel is on the up.

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