Helmsley birds of prey centre welcomes Rishi the sea eagle – its first chick of 2020
The National Centre for Birds of Prey (NCBP) in Helmsley has hatched its first chick of 2020 – a Steller’s Sea Eagle.
Weighing in at 105g the chick will eventually grow into the largest eagle in the world and will weigh up to 7,300g when fully grown.
The bird has been christened Rishi, after Chancellor Rishi Sunak, whose promise to pay 80% of NCBP staff wages during the coronavirus pandemic has meant that the conservation organisation can hope to weather the financial storm now it has closed its doors to the public.
The centre, which is based in Helmsley’s Duncombe Park Estate, is part of a global conservation effort to help the red-list Steller Sea Eagle species.
These eagles are found only on the coastline of North Eastern Asia and are declining at an alarming rate.
NCBP director Charlie Heap said: “There’s not much to smile about at the moment, but I’m not embarrassed to admit I shed more than a few tears of joy when this little chap hatched in one of incubators.
“He (or she) will go back in with mum and dad in a few days’ time.”
The National Centre for Birds of Prey first opened its doors seven years ago.
It is currently closed to the public due to the pandemic at present but will reopen when it is safe to do so.
Visit www.ncbp.co.uk to find out more information.