The centre is owned by Richard and Sue Dewar, who moved to Mull from Berkshire after visiting the island regularly for nearly 20 years.
Both accomplished falconers, the Dewars spent their leisure time training and flying birds for display and at game, as well as breeding some species, and caring for injured wild birds.
Sue studied raptor biology at the University of Kent Durrell Institute for Conservation and Ecology, and in 1984 was appointed National Co-ordinator of The Hawk and Owl Trust's Barn Owl Conservation Network. The network consists of around 130 experts across the UK from Shetland to the Channel Islands, who spend their time giving advice and practical help to farmers and landowners who are keen to encourage Barn Owls to nest on their land. Although no longer employed by the Trust, Sue continues to act as an advisor.
More recently Sue was based at Sheepdrove Organic Farm in Lambourn, Berkshire where, as well as running the Barn Owl Conservation Network, her duties included managing the farm's biodiversity and education programmes. Amongst the initiatives which Sue was involved in for Sheepdrove was a full environmental audit of the farm during the early stages of organic conversion and again when conversion was complete.
During her time with the Hawk and Owl Trust, Sue presented papers and gave lectures at national and international conferences, and spent much of her time travelling around the UK visiting network advisors and major nestbox projects, as well as monitoring nest sites under licence. She is also a BTO ringer. Sue edited the BOCN's annual newsletter, and together with Colin Shawyer, Director of The Hawk and Owl Trust, wrote the Trust's best-selling booklet on nestboxes for birds of prey.
Sue has been very active in rescuing and rehabilitating wild injured birds, liaising with the foremost raptor vets in England. In 2000 she successfully released 90% of the birds which were brought to her. Whilst recognising that conventional medicine is necessary, Sue is a great advocate of homeopathic remedies and has had considerable success using these on the birds she has dealt with.
