MARTU KIDS MEET AN EAGLES SPECIALIST

Photo courtesy Wiluna Remote Community School.

GEOFF VIVIAN

Children at Wiluna Remote Community school had a visit from an Eagles scientist last week.

Simon Cherriman, who frequently visits the town to study nesting eagles nearby, showed the children how he climbs trees and takes an eagle chick briefly from its nest to measure and weigh it.

“We travelled to the nest and took the chick down, we weighed and measured and banded it,” he said. “There’s a perception that you’re interfering too much but it’s very quick. It’s done at a time when the adults are usually off feeding. The kids have had their breakfast, so to speak, and their mum and dad are off to do more shopping.

“We were able to carry out that research and the kids were involved which is wonderful.”

Mr Cherriman said although there were several pairs of eagles nesting at the site near Wiluna, this chick was the first to hatch for several years, owing to the drought.