Feathered friends join Mountbatten Grange residents

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Feb 08, 2019

Mountbatten Grange had bird-feeders filled and binoculars at the ready when it took part in this year’s RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch with the help of some feathered friends. 

The team at Mountbatten Grange invited the Feathers and Furs Falconry Centre to lead a ‘show and tell’ workshop with residents.

Residents were visited by a host of birds of prey, including a barn owl and a snowy owl.As part of the session, residents had the opportunity to learn interesting facts about the different birds and were also able to handle the friendly creatures.

2019 marks the 40th anniversary of the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, which encourages people nationwide to count the birds in their gardens to allow the charity to monitor trends and understand how different species are doing. Data from over half a million people is then compared year-on-year to provide a ‘snapshot’ of bird numbers across the UK. 

Saad Baig, home manager at Mountbatten Grange, said: “We were delighted that the Feathers and Furs Falconry Centre could join us to make our first ever birdwatch even more special for everyone involved. All of the residents enjoyed taking part, especially seeing the birds up close. 

“Birdwatching gives older people a fantastic opportunity to get outdoors and be more active – but even better, no matter what your mobility level you can take part. We know just how beneficial animal therapy can be for older people, especially for those living with dementia. Being close to animals can help lift a person’s mood and stimulate social interaction – and the birds were brilliant at doing just that. It was fantastic to see the smiles on everyone’s faces. We all had a fantastic time and will continue our new hobby over the coming months as our brand new garden and terraces get established.”