The Courier has teamed up with Blair Drummond Safari Park to offer readers the chance to win a family pass for two adults and two children each week - and learn a bit more about their residents at the same time.
Easter Sunday is nearly upon us, a time for all things chocolate and egg-shaped.
This year Blair Drummond Safari Park is holding a Scrambled Egg Trail throughout April.
Lots of clues have been hidden in the park; follow the clues to find the eggs and unscramble the letters to spell out the mystery word. Then you can enter the park’s big prize draw for a chance to win a £100 gift card for Blair Drummond Safari Park.
The Scrambled Egg Trail, however, won’t produce the only eggs visitors can expect to see. Join the daily bird presentations, and you may get to see the park’s red-legged seriema Elvis and her impressive egg-throwing skills.
A spokesperson said: “Red-legged seriemas are predatory terrestrial birds from South America.
“Although they can fly short distances, they prefer to run from their predators and can reach speeds greater than 40 miles an hour.
“Red-legged seriemas are omnivorous, and will eat everything from insects, lizards, snakes and rodents, to grains and wild fruits. They will also eat eggs from other bird species if the opportunity arises.
“Seriemas are famous for their rather violent way of killing their prey, picking them up in their bills and repeatedly throwing them at the ground until stunned or dead. They will also use this technique to break open eggs.
“This is where Elvis’ egg-throwing skills come into play. Elvis was taught this technique by her keepers to mimic this natural behaviour. Her keepers initially gave Elvis a rubber egg to practice with, eventually working their way up to giving her a real egg when she had mastered the art. However, seriemas are naturally very playful birds, and they soon discovered that Elvis actually preferred bouncing the rubber egg to the real thing. It is now her all-time favourite activity, and one that is very worthwhile coming to watch.”
Blair Drummond Safari Park is open seven days a week, from 10am until 5.30pm. Tickets can be booked online at blairdrummond.com.
For a chance to win a family pass, which can be used any one day during the park’s opening season this year, just answer the following question: How fast can red-legged seriemas run?
Send the coupon with your answer, name, address and contact number to: Safari Park Competition, West Lothian Courier, One Central Quay, Glasgow, G3 9DA. The deadline is Wednesday at 4pm. Only original vouchers will be accepted, no photocopies.
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