Wynberg visitors take cover, as
seagulls prepare to attack them.
Did you know that we have
seagulls which view the property of Wynberg Girls' High as theirs? It
brought new meaning to any idea that school is for the birds!
until we were gulled out of our chosen venue
We all learnt a little of just how territorial our seagulls are on 11 September, when the school had arranged an educational bird show for the Grades Eights and Nines out on our hockey fields. The seagulls would have none of it. And the owls, the falcon, the lecturer, the teachers and the girls had to take cover as they gathered together and circled noisily above us preparing to attack.
and we became a little concerned, as they circled above us.
On this day, we didn't battle with them - we, and our visitors, simply took cover in the hall where we could give the South African National Bird of Prey Centre and their birds the attention (admiration and appreciation) they deserved.
We were presented with an Environ-Eductional programme on the importance of these birds in the environment, the threats that Raptors face and how to conserve these magnificent birds for future generations. We learnt a bit about the body language of owls and falcons - their bobbing and weaving and hooting and calling; we learnt about their disguises and defenses and something of the pecking order as far as matters of gender are concerned. We learnt a bit about ways in which we could help and protect birds of prey, but most excitingly, we - the pupils and the teachers - got to release them from our arms, and to call them back to us to provide them with food. We saw them catch their food in the air and generally delighted in their antics.
It was an absolutely fantastic opportunity which our girls were privileged to enjoy.