Birds of Prey
On Monday, the 14th of October Ian Patterson came to Scoil Mhuire, Magherarney with his Birds of Prey. He came to try and get us involved in wildlife and to teach us about Birds of Prey in Ireland.
First of all he brought in a barn owl. His name was Alba. Ian told us that barn owls can twist their neck the whole way around. This is because they cannot move their eyeballs so they twist their neck to help them see. They also use their hearing to help find their prey. Mice and small rodents are its prey.
Interestingly the owl only hunts old or weak prey because it is easier for them to catch. The owl has no teeth and a very poor sense of taste. The barn owl's hearing is so sensitive that it can hear a mouse's heartbeat. Ian told us that most birds have tips called barbules at the end of their feathers but as owls do not have these barbules this means that they can fly silently. Ian also told us that owls moult once a year. An owl has 50 bones which are hollow. This makes the bird lighter for easy flying. Ian told us that the owls sleep standing up with one leg raised. They may change legs during their sleep.
The next bird of prey that Ian introduced to us was a Kestrel named Clee. This was a smaller bird with brown speckled feathers. Ian told us that the kestrel is a far faster bird than the barn owl. Like the owl the kestrel likes to eat mice and other rodents. The kestrel is able to hover over its prey. We could see that the kestrel had bright yellow talons that he uses to grab and grip its prey.
Finally Ian brought in his peregrine falcon. This is the fastest of all the birds of prey in Ireland. The falcon was a stony grey colour which made its yellow talons and yellow beak stand out. The falcon also had a bright yellow ring around its eye. When Ian brought the falcon in we could see that it was wearing a little hood. The hood was made out of leather. Ian explained that the leather hood helped to keep the bird calm. The falcon's habitat is high cliffs or hill tops. When he spots his prey he dives
downwards and catches it with its talons.
Birds of prey cannot eat cooked meat. They also cannot drink water but they get the moisture they need from the juice of the raw meat that they eat. The birds of prey are also very fast eaters. Birds of prey in the wild may only live up to one year whereas birds of prey in captivity can live for up to ten years. Ian
informed us that the more sleep a bird gets the better its chance of survival.
We thought that Ian's visit was very informative and interesting. Birds of prey is a really engaging topic. Seeing and holding the birds was an amazing experience. We hope we get to see the birds again soon.
Contributed by Rang 3 & 4
First of all he brought in a barn owl. His name was Alba. Ian told us that barn owls can twist their neck the whole way around. This is because they cannot move their eyeballs so they twist their neck to help them see. They also use their hearing to help find their prey. Mice and small rodents are its prey.
Interestingly the owl only hunts old or weak prey because it is easier for them to catch. The owl has no teeth and a very poor sense of taste. The barn owl's hearing is so sensitive that it can hear a mouse's heartbeat. Ian told us that most birds have tips called barbules at the end of their feathers but as owls do not have these barbules this means that they can fly silently. Ian also told us that owls moult once a year. An owl has 50 bones which are hollow. This makes the bird lighter for easy flying. Ian told us that the owls sleep standing up with one leg raised. They may change legs during their sleep.
The next bird of prey that Ian introduced to us was a Kestrel named Clee. This was a smaller bird with brown speckled feathers. Ian told us that the kestrel is a far faster bird than the barn owl. Like the owl the kestrel likes to eat mice and other rodents. The kestrel is able to hover over its prey. We could see that the kestrel had bright yellow talons that he uses to grab and grip its prey.
Finally Ian brought in his peregrine falcon. This is the fastest of all the birds of prey in Ireland. The falcon was a stony grey colour which made its yellow talons and yellow beak stand out. The falcon also had a bright yellow ring around its eye. When Ian brought the falcon in we could see that it was wearing a little hood. The hood was made out of leather. Ian explained that the leather hood helped to keep the bird calm. The falcon's habitat is high cliffs or hill tops. When he spots his prey he dives
downwards and catches it with its talons.
Birds of prey cannot eat cooked meat. They also cannot drink water but they get the moisture they need from the juice of the raw meat that they eat. The birds of prey are also very fast eaters. Birds of prey in the wild may only live up to one year whereas birds of prey in captivity can live for up to ten years. Ian
informed us that the more sleep a bird gets the better its chance of survival.
We thought that Ian's visit was very informative and interesting. Birds of prey is a really engaging topic. Seeing and holding the birds was an amazing experience. We hope we get to see the birds again soon.
Contributed by Rang 3 & 4