Lower Fourth Falconry
Posted: 21/05/2015
After the torrential downpours and hail of recent days, the sun shone on Gordon Green on Wednesday afternoon for the Lower Fourth Form falconry display; an annual treat and a highlight in the Head of Year calendar.
The Falconry Centre in Hagley visited with a range of different birds of prey, each with their own personality and Andy their falconer explained about the physical adaptations of the birds and their native habitats, habits and their diet in the wild. This year, pupils were treated to a Harris Hawk, a Northern Hawk Owl called Aurora and Basil the Eagle Owl. Basil squawked happily and hopped along beside his trainer through the crowd then flew low over the whole group of Lower Fourth in order to get a treat.
A new addition to the display was a Chilean Blue Buzzard Eagle, a young bird growing accustomed to group displays whose loud noises showed her comfort with the crowd as she allowed Andy to take her closer to the pupils. The end of the display was an impressive show from a cross-bred Falcon who circled Gordon Green before punching his lure on numerous occasions out of the sky.
The Lower Fourth were an excellent audience, they learned a great deal about the behaviour and habitats of the different birds and made sure they were very low to the ground when they flew over. We look forward to the birds of prey visiting again next year.