meet our display team
An opportunity to meet some of the team – up close and personal!
Every Bird of Prey in the team has history, personality and a story to tell.
They are all non releasable and have been selected and approved to become ambassadors to their species.
Micro
Wedge-tailed Eagle
Aquila audax (Born Jan 2007)
Micro is our cuddly WTE. He is an exceptional small male but holds a big personality. Micro is our go to eagle for most displays because of his lovable and calming nature. He is often visiting childcare centres or pre-schools for the children to engage with.
History – Micro is mostly blind. He was handed to the centre with the possible chance his vision may only be short term. It was suspected the damage to the eyes was a result of poisoning and trauma at his early stages of development.
Waalitj
Wedge-tailed
Aquila audax (Born Oct 2018)
Waalitj has a name that comes from the Nyngar language meaning ‘eagle’. She was also found in Jandakot. Another Nyngar word meaning ‘whistling eagle’. So Waalitj is our spiritual eagle representing power, strength, vision, courage and beauty. Waalitj is the youngest eagle on the team and can been seen at most of our gazebo displays. When Waalitj is not on display, she is flying free at the centre or at Optus stadium.
History – Found on the ground with a growth on the right eye. In the first eight weeks, before fledging, Waalitj had two eye operations, two courses of antibiotics, seven visits to the vets, depressed immune system which in turn slowed her rate of development. Waalitj has been imprinted and socialised to human life.
GT
Brown Falcon
Falco berigora (Born November 2005)
Our most trusted bird for hands on. This is your opportunity to hold one of the birds. GT loves the attention and is more than happy to pose for a photo or two or three while you are holding him. Big kids (adults), little kids, the rule of thumb is, if you can stand you can hold, nobody misses out. This is all part of the experience.
Bee
Whistling Kite
Haliaster sphenurus (Born October 2004)
Our international celebrity! Bee stars in the 2015 movie ‘Paper Planes’ filmed in Perth. The film won the AACTA Awards for best Original Screenplay in Film, won the Jerusalem Film Festival and was nominee for numerous international film awards.
On request we bring along our super star for show and tell which ties in with our program of how birds fly. We can also conduct our paper plane activity. (insert Tab to see more on paper plane activity)
History – Fell out of the nest at a very early age. Imprinted on humans.
Jandoo
Whistling Kite
As the name suggests they Whistle and can be on cue too. Local species is found around rives, lakes, streams and ponds. Not to be confused as an eagle.
History – Kept illegally as a pet. Imprinted
Little Boo
Boobook Owl
Our eyed fan! Little and cute with a big personality.
History – Can into captivity with a damaged eye and unable to be released.
Olive
Boobook Owl
Olive got her name from her beautiful green eyes. Our little Brown owl with a big personality.
History – Come out of a nest and imprinted.
Crystal
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
Our go to Barn owl for displays that loves everyone. The facial disk that helps with her hearing to the amazing colours on her feathers makes her a mesmerising beauty. In class she can be seen flying across the room.
History – Born in captivity for breeding and education.
Snuggles
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
Valued member of the team, showing our nocturnal group of birds.
History – Born in captivity for education and breeding
Pixi
Australian Kestrel
Falco cenchroides
Pocket rocket Pixi! Petra is the smallest member of the team weighing in at 145g. Don’t be fooled by the size he has a very big mouth and thinks he is the size of a Peregrine.
History – Wing damage
Perri
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinis
If speed is your thing, this is the bird for you. At under 400km per hour in a vertical stoop this is the fastest creature on the planet.
History – Wing damage
retired from regular displays
– special events only team –
Tree
Tawney frogmouth
The oldest member of the team. Not an owl but part of the night jar family. Tree is often used on display to show the different between raptors and other species of bird.
Pandora
Black Kite
Milvus migrans (Born August 2004)
Circling and soaring around, showing how graceful she is on the wing. Picking up sticks is her speciality. If we had a couple of hours, she would pick up every stick on the arena.
History – Blind in the left eye.
Flying Free In the Rainbow
Oska
Barking Owl
Ninox connivens
(Born October 2005 – Aug 2017)
As the name suggests, he barked like a dog. Forever in our hearts and huge loss to our educational team.
History– Born in captivity for education and breeding.
Jenna
Australian Hobby
Falco longipennis
(Born 2002 – 2015)
Jenna was a valued team member that thrilled the crowds at our flying display in Whiteman Park. She was often seen chasing a leather pad to simulate hunting. Low lying flights, nice fast flights reaching speeds of up to 100 kms per hour in level flight. She was a one of a kind, very gentle lady that was happy to fly up close and personal.
History – We believe she flew into a motor vehicle; nothing wrong with her ability to fly the problem is with her legs. Holding, catching and carrying her prey was difficult.
