Flying lessons for Skye the harrier hawk
Wednesday 22 September 2004
Our one year old harrier hawk, Skye, has been practicing her airborne antics with keepers, who are training her for the very popular bird show at Whipsnade Wild Animal Park
© South Bedfordshire News Agency
Skye, who is just starting to get her blue, grey and brown adult plumage, is still quite shy, so her keepers walk her around the park to meet the public and build her confidence.
Harrier hawks have an extraordinary way of feeding; they can hang upside-down from tree branches and use their long, double jointed legs and slender bill to steal eggs and young birds from weaver bird nests.
In sub-Saharan Africa, where the birds come from, they also eat frogs, insects, small mammals and bats. At the park, Skye is fed a daily diet of chicks, mice and rats.
You can see Skye is her daily training session with keepers after the 1.30 bird show, or relaxing on her perch in the Bird Garden.