Naturalist Chris Packham visited an Aberdeen school yesterday to give pupils a practical lesson in the eating habits of owls.
The star of The Really Wild Show and Springwatch called in at Abbotswell Primary during a visit to the city to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the local branch of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
Youngsters from the Kincorth school have taken part in a series of wildlife activities in recent years, but the visit was still an eye-opener for some of the primary fours at yesterday’s session.
After explaining that owls eat the whole bodies of other animals such as mice and rats then cough up what they do not want in the form of a pellet, Mr Packham asked if they would like to play with the remains.
Some of the children looked shocked by the offer, but he reassured them, saying: “I’ve been playing with pellets since I was your age, and the only danger is if you don’t wash your hands.”
Pupils were given a specimen each and took great delight in peeling away the fur to reveal skulls and jaws.
Speaking after the event Mr Packham said he was delighted to be able to inspire the next generation of nature-lovers while celebrating the last four decades of the Aberdeen and district RSPB branch.
“Forty years of RSPB is quite an achievement, they’ve been acting as bird conservationists for all that time, and now we need to attract the members of the next 40 years,” he said.
“The kids all start off saying it’s dirty, but they rapidly become enthralled.
“A bit of practical biology goes a long way.”
Later, Mr Packham attended an evening celebration in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, where a 700-strong audience celebrated the 40th anniversary.
The group’s local chairman Mark Sullivan said: “Inspiring people of all ages to love nature is at the heart of what we do.
“Chris Packham’s agreement to come up to Aberdeen to help us celebrate allows us to raise awareness of our activities and spread the message that nature everywhere needs our help.”
