The Go Tourism team recently enjoyed getting up close and personal to birds of prey at “Eagle Encounters” on Spier Wine Farm. They receive and rehabilitate birds of prey that have been injured, poisoned, abused or hand-reared. When the birds are fit, healthy and able to hunt and breed again they are released into the wild. Only hand-reared birds are kept for education purposes.
Sleeping owl found the perfect perch on Evans’ shoulder
Sam and her man!
It was absolutely fascinating to find out how these magnificent animals keep the Spier Farm healthy and balanced. A barn owl family consumes up to one ton of rodents like rats and mice, which cause damage and soil erosion, per year. Kites, buzzards and vultures are scavengers who clean-up any organic remains, helping to prevent disease and small falcons keep the locust, cricket and grasshopper populations in check, which would otherwise destroy the crops.
Kayleigh and Hibou make a cute couple!
Touchy Feely: hold an owl or an eagle in the touching gallery
Play knight: take part in a breathtaking falconry display, with kites, buzzards, owls and other birds swooping to and around you
Snake for lunch: observe a secretary bird’s devastating kick in a simulated snake hunt
Who’s who: in the weathering area (the birds don’t live in cages) check out who the fastest, cheekiest and strongest birds are.
The two wise birds!
After a healthy dose of crisp winter air we were glad to move indoors to the tasting room, overlooking the Helderberg Mountains on the banks of the Spier dam, to warm ourselves with a selection of hearty soups paired with 3 Spier wines:Cauliflower soup paired with Spier Creative Block 2; Spicy sweet potato and coconut soup paired with Spier Signature Cabernet Sauvignon and Beef and onion soup paired with Spier Creative Block 3. Scrumptious!
Yummy!
The whole experience is highly recommended for adults and children alike by the Go Tourism team.We look forward to receiving your booking requests for this and many more amazing Southern African experiences.
The hungry, thirsty dream team
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