Aussie the Falcon

Wingspan in Rotorua is the National Bird Of Prey Centre, established for the research, captive management, rehabilitation and public awareness of New Zealand birds of prey.

It is open to the public and each day at 2 pm the handlers set the birds (Aussie and Mindy) free (one at time) to exercise and feed. They know where to get an easy meal, so they are very happy to fly away free for a few minutes but always came back to the handler for food- when they have had enough they make their own way back to their enclosures.

Three falcons (Karearea, the forest falcons of Aotearoa), Tama, Te Rangi Rere and Hatupatu - named after 3 Maori Rotorua legends, were released from the Museum in the Rotorua Government Gardens last December and now fly free in their new home. They each have electronic transmitters so Wingspan can monitor them and check on health issues.

If you are in Rotorua it is a great place to visit.

We spent a couple of hours today photographing them - not so easy to get them in flight but it was a good attempt.

I couldn't decide which image to Blip - so made a composite image instead.