At the start of term,  a falconer from the Raptor Foundation brought a Harris Hawk and four different owls to school for us to watch and learn about. First we watched a barn owl called Trevor, fly in the hall. He flew to various places, then decided to sit on the projector on the hall ceiling and refused to come down! He was tempted by some food and flew down. 
Next we watched a Harris Hawk fly around the hall. He flew low over us and we could feel the air from his wings. They eat small mammals like mice, rats, other birds, lizards and large insects. 
Next we met the owls in turn; an African Spotted Eagle Owl, A White-Faced African owl, a Tawny Owl and the Barn Owl again. We learnt that the colour of their eyes tells us when they fly and hunt; orange for sunrise/sunset, yellow for the day time and black for night time. Owls' eyes can't move so when they see it is like looking through binoculars. They have to turn their heads to see to the side or behind them, and they have never seen their feet! 
We had the chance to stroke some of the owls. Everyone was very careful to be gentle and followed instructions given by the falconer about how to do this without frightening the birds. The feathers felt very soft and fluffy. Everyone thorough enjoyed meeting the birds of prey. 
This experience will help us understand the story 'Owl Babies' which we will be reading soon.