Meeting our feathered friends (From Wiltshire Times)

Meeting our feathered friends

2:20pm Friday 11th July 2008

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TROWBRIDGE Oaks Residential and Nursing Home had some unusual visitors on Tuesday - when five birds of prey popped in.

Chippenham man Rob Evans brought along his feathered friends to give residents a hands on approach to nature.

Mr Evans, 40, a fireman at Chippenham Fire Station, owns the birds, which are kept in an aviary on a farm in the north Wiltshire village of Reybridge.

He introduced residents to a barn owl, a European eagle owl and a little owl, as well as a common kestrel and common buzzard.

Mr Evans said: "It gave some of the elderly people the chance to get closer to them. There were a few wows.

"I got them to stroke the chest, which we call preening.

It's about trying to put something back, conservation through education."

Ray Horan, activity organiser at Trowbridge Oaks, said: "For us it was a once in a lifetime experience. It was a marvellous afternoon."

"He let people put the glove on, hold the bird and be quite close to it."

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