Weston's Baytree Owl Centre has new stars as the eagles have landed
A new pond is being installed in the revamped flying arena at Baytree Owl and Wildlife Centre so audiences can see an African Fish Eagle take her prey from the water.
The 10-year-old eagle, called Aquarius, has come from another centre and will be one of the new stars of the upcoming arena displays.
Owl centre boss Mark Birdsall said: “She’s safe with humans but not with other birds.
“She was part of a breeding programme and she killed her mate. She’s what we call an imprinted bird ... because she was hand-reared by humans she thinks she is a human and not a bird.
“She won’t accept another fish eagle as a mate ... she classes that as a rival for the attention of humans.”
The arena displays begin on Saturday, April 4 and audiences can expect new seating as well as special features to accentuate the 2020 programme.
Mark said: “We are putting a big platform in at one end of the arena so we can fly the eagles over people’s heads.
“Every year we change the flying display team.”
The owl centre is currently introducing a new bird to visitors, an as yet unnamed White Tailed Sea Eagle, Britain’s largest bird of prey.
The centre is also welcoming two new fox cubs and there are plans to widen the number of native species in the butterfly house.
This will include a beehive made of glass so visitors can see what the bees are doing.
As well as attracting general visitors and families, the native species displays are popular with school pupils for their nature studies.
“We have got a lot of schools coming in,” said Mark.
Popular residents Doom and Gloom, a pair of African White-backed Vultures, have been settled into their new area for the last six months, and the centre is considering “a little bit of training” ready for spring visitors to enjoy.
Mark says that may just involve some keeper talks in their aviary, which in the spot formerly occupied by long-term resident Kelly the Secretary Bird, who died in 2018.
Baby owl season is also just beginning as the centre welcomes new chicks into the world, and Mark says they expect to be very busy over the next two weeks.
The owl centre is home to more than 100 birds, as well as wildlife, and its work contributes to worldwide conservation efforts through a successful breeding programme.
The owl centre is part of the Baytree Garden Centre at Weston and opens year round.
As well as being able to watch arena displays, visitors can book encounter sessions were they can ‘fly’ native species birds under expert supervision.
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