NIE makes Ballynure pupils wise as owls!
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
Wise as Owls! Teacher Marion Weir, NIE’s Christine Baker with an American Eagle Owl and Don Scott with Ballynure Primary School pupils Neave Graham, Zara-Jane Melody, Neil McCracken and Lauren Hamill. SE3729
NORTHERN Ireland Electricity will be helping local school children do a spot of bird watching in Ballyclare over the next few months! The local NIE office is supporting a number of school talks and demonstrations run by 'The Owl Man', Don Scott.
NIE Customer Relations Manager for the Ballyclare area, Christine Baker, visited Ballynure Primary School to see Don and his owls in action.
Christine said: "NIE is committed to supporting environmental projects, especially those which help promote environmental awareness through the involvement of local schools. NIE uses a number of devices to help keep birds safe around the network, including reflective bird diverters and electronic devices to keep the birds away from overhead lines. We are pleased to support Don's talks, which encourage pupils to think about the local wildlife and how our actions can impact on their environment."
Don Scott visited the school to talk to the pupils, bringing a Great Grey Owl and a European Eagle Owl. He is keen to encourage more children to take an active interest in protecting wildlife in their local area.
“Through this educational work, we can highlight the welfare of birds and their natural habitat within a continually changing Northern Ireland environment. Bringing the owls to the schools allows the pupils to see these majestic creatures up close, helping them understand how they live. The Barn Owl is one of Northern Ireland's rarest birds and we should try to safeguard the future of this beautiful bird for generations to come."
Ballynure Primary School Principal, Elaine Doherty, says environmental projects capture the pupils' imagination. "Bringing wildlife to the classroom is a great experience for the pupils and Don's work teaches them about the importance of caring for local wildlife. These talks link in with the curriculum and we welcome NIE's support for environmental projects that encourage pupils to become involved in the welfare of their natural environment."
