WA Birds of Prey visit Geraldton Primary School, Northampton and Holland Street to educate students

Geraldton Primary School students were able to get up close and personal to some of the most unique birds of prey on Thursday during an educational wildlife display tour.

Hosted by the the WA Birds of Prey Centre, schools and childcare centres were impressed by some of Australia’s largest native birds this week, including a wedge-tailed eagle, brown falcon, Australian kestrel, barn owl and boobook owl.

Geraldton Primary School students were given the opportunity to see and interact with the birds while learning about their survival techniques, diet, habitat and why they’re important in the ecosystem.

Handler Corina Henrisson said the incursion informed youngsters on how to look after animals in the future, and look out for mistreatment or situations that weren’t right.

“Birds of Prey are still misunderstood, they are still shot, trapped and poisoned. This is our way to educate people on how important these birds are and what they can do to ensure their survival,” she said.

William Debeaux in Year 3 said the wedged-tail eagle was his favourite bird, and he’d seen a tawny frogmouth on a trip to Kalbarri.

“Its baby was flying away from its parents, we were trying to get it back to its parents but then we saw the tawny frogmouth’s mouth was going to come to us,” he said.

“I think it’s fine to leave them how they are even if the baby flies away from its parents.”

The WA Birds of Prey Centre visited St Mary’s School and Fairbridge School Camp in Northampton on Tuesday, the Magic Cottage and the Kids Retreat on Wednesday and spent Thursday with all year groups at Geraldton Primary.

They will be at Holland Street School from 11.30am-1.30pm on Friday.