Canning children got up close and personal with some of Australia’s most spectacular birds of prey on Thursday at Willetton Library.
Birds of prey expert Yvonne Sitko from the WA Birds of Prey Centre visited the library with falcons, owls and a wedge tailed eagle to teach children and break down any misconceptions they had about the predators.
“This is a great opportunity for them to get up close and personal with nature’s top predators,” she said.
“These birds themselves are misunderstood more than any other group, they’re still shot, trapped and poisoned.
“Sometimes the poisoning happens in our own backyard and we’re not even aware of it.
“So if I can pass on environmental messages to reduce the amount of chemicals, pesticides and baits that people use and show them the importance of planting trees to help their habitat then that’s a good thing.”
She said children loved to see the birds up close.
“I tend to call it education through entertainment because they’re learning, experiencing, hands on,” she said.
“They can read this in a book, they can watch it in a documentary but to actually physically be here to touch it and experience it is different.
“I try to make the talks interactive I make sure I get them involved.”
Ms Sitko has been taking birds of prey to schools and public shows for about 15 years and is the bird trainer for Auzzie the wedge tail eagle which flies around Domain Stadium before each West Coast Eagles match.
The visit was a part of the City of Canning’s library activities during the school holidays.
For more information about what’s on visit the city’s website at www.canning.wa.gov.au/what-s-on.
