A Werribee Open Range Zoo keeper has used his skills to “capture” hundreds of wild animals.
When he’s not looking after the zoo’s African cats, Paul Rushworth is taking photos of the wild birds that also call the zoo home.
Most recently he managed to capture photos of a barn owl family nesting in the zoo’s savannah.
“While barn owls are quite common it’s rare that we get to see them because they only come out in full darkness,” Mr Rushworth said.
“We spotted at least seven chicks in the hollow of an old tree … we have also noticed nankeen kestrels hanging around that same tree during the day, so it’s a bit like a high-rise hot-seating arrangement.”
A Werribee local, Mr Rushworth is a passionate bird-watcher and photographer, spending many hours filming Wyndham’s abundant bird life.
“Having grown up in the African bush, I now feel very lucky to live in an area like Wyndham that has such a diverse habitat for birdlife,” he said.
“At Werribee Open Range Zoo more than 170 different species of bird have been sighted, including 130 that we see regularly.”
Mr Rushworth’s skills have led the zoo to trial new overnight bird-watching camps this spring, designed for both new and experienced bird-watchers.
To register interest in future bird-watching camps, email worz@zoo.org.au.
