PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Youngsters across Plettenberg Bay celebrated World Wildlife Day earlier this month by getting up close and personal with birds of prey.

Nature's Valley Trust (NVT), along with Birdlife Plettenberg Bay, runs a birding masters and champions programme which focuses on experiential learning through birding outings.

In commemoration of World Wildlife Day, which was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2013, programme participants from four local schools – the Crags and Formosa primary, Plettenberg Bay Christian and Secondary schools – visited Radical Raptors, a rehabilitation centre on the outskirts of the town that aims at community awareness and the rescue, rehabilitation and release of birds of prey, 1 March.

This was the first birding outing of the year and learners had the opportunity to see raptors up close – an opportunity that would under normal circumstances only be possible through a pair of binoculars.

Some of the birds the learners got to see included Barney the barn owl that showed off its ability to move about quietly, according to NVT director Dr Mark Brown. Another bird that caught the youngsters' attention was a rock kestrel, which demonstrated its manoeuvrability in order to catch prey.

The young birders also had the opportunity to see a jackal buzzard showing off its hunting ability in action.

The birds that are part of the flying displays at Radical Raptors are trained, non-releasable birds that are free flown.

Among the other birds that the learners got to see was a Harris hawk and spotted eagle-owl.

"We would like to thank Radical Raptors for an incredible experience for the learners. We would also like to thank all our birding masters from Birdlife Plettenberg Bay for transporting the birding champions to Radical Raptors," Brown said.

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