The Western Australian Birds of Prey Centre (WABOPC) was established in May 2005 and is still flying high today. The centre focuses on education, conservation and rehabilitation of birds of prey. The business goal is education through entertainment, which is achieved through the Birds of Prey Flying displays at Whiteman Park , static displays, experience days and the new West Coast Eagles venture with Auzzie the Wedge-tailed Eagle. Yvonne Sitko, owner and operator of WABOPC, has been actively caring for sick, injured & orphaned birds of prey since 2000. Her main priority is to return them to the wild as quickly as possible, giving them a second chance at life.

If you find any injured, orphaned or sick birds of prey, please contact Yvonne on 0438 388 383.

Flying displays with birds of prey are the most effective way of passing on conservational issues to the public. The public are given the opportunity to get up-close and personal with these fascinating predators, while experiencing behaviours that they may never have had the opportunity to see in the wild. Yvonne and her staff give a full commentary throughout the shows, whilst getting the birds to simulate hunting practises, catch food on their wings or the ground, and generally showing what the birds would do if they were still able to live in the wild. The Birds of Prey Flying Displays are conducted with the approval of, and under licence from the Department of Environment and Conservation Western Australia.

Birds of Prey Flying Display

Auzzie is one of the newest additions to the Western Australian Birds of Prey Centre. He was born in October 2006 in Alice Springs , Northern Territory .

Auzzie's history:

Auzzie was taken from the nest to be kept as a ‘pet', but it is illegal to take wildlife from its natural environment without proper permission having been granted. In Auzzie's case, authorities intervened and Auzzie was then handed to a wildlife carer in the Northern Territory to be assessed, in the hope he could be returned to the wild. In November 2006, Auzzie was sent to Yvonne at the Western Australian Birds of Prey Centre to be further assessed and cared for. Auzzie has spent all his life in captivity, surrounded by humans. While he does refer to people as his extended family, this is an exception - in the wild, these birds, as with any other wildlife, should not be approached.

Auzzie has made his home at Whiteman Park , and is now the most well-known member of the Birds of Prey team at the display arena here. He certainly has an impact on everyone he meets - as a Wedge-tailed Eagle, or Aquila audax , he is the largest Australian raptor, and second largest of the ‘true eagles' of the world.

Although Auzzie does come in second to the females of his species, which are generally the larger of the two! Auzzie has also become an ambassador for the conservational issues of birds of prey and all native fauna, as his profile with the West Coast Eagles soars.

He is a ‘static' part of the display, giving people a great opportunity to get up close and personal to Chilli, and feel his soft downy feathers.

He is also a ‘static display' which means that he, like Chilli, does not fly. But having Oska in the display means you have a great photo opportunity with a magnificent real-live owl!

Ford showcases her natural skills in snake catching (with a rubber snake), catching from the ground, running, and mantling during the Flying Displays.

He does a lot of glove-work, giving the crowd the opportunity to ‘hold' the bird on the glove. GT is pictured at the top-right of this page.

Hovering, low lying flights, and running are Petra 's main behaviours demonstrated in the shows.

Bee
Bee is a male Whistling Kite ( Haliaster sphenurus ) who was born in October 2004.

Bee likes to circle and soar around the arena, and demonstrates how Whistling Kites can catch food on the wing and then transfer it into their beak's, plus fishing, stealing and raking.

Pandora
Pandora is a female Black Kite ( Milvus migrans ) who was born in August 2004. An original member of the Birds of Prey Flying Displays, Pandora demonstrates raking, circling, and her ability to pick sticks up off the ground – you'll be amazed to know why Black Kites do this in the wild too!

Jenna
Jenna is a female Australian Hobby ( Falco longipennis ) who is around 5 years old now (2007).

Her favourite task is simulating hunting, by catching a ‘flying' leather pad. Jenna also gets up-close & personal with the crowd herslef, as she flies amongst those watching the display.