Animal Diaries Archive

Free Flying

3 August 2007

The Bird Show Crew are very excited to see our beautiful Whistling Kite Rusty flying free in the Crocoseum. Rusty is still in the early stages of her training but progressing very quickly.

Whistling Kites are well known for their ability to catch and consume their prey whilst in flight. They feed on a variety of live prey such as fish, rodents, insects, birds, reptiles and will even include carrion into their diet. They are found throughout Australia excluding Tasmania and live in a wide range of habitats.

For now, Rusty is doing flights from her trainer to a perch. The next step for Rusty is to become aerial in order for her to catch her food whilst in flight and then return to the perch. When she has reached this stage she will then be introduced to the Free Flight Bird Show.

Our Free Flight Show consists of 3 segments being our Exotic species, Water Birds/ Birds of Prey and not forgetting the beautiful Native Parrots. I am sure Rusty will be a fantastic addition to the Birds of Prey segment, showing up our Laughing Kookaburra Tok as she takes to the air catching like a true Queenslander.