Head O’ Meadow Elementary School students met a variety of animals on January 30 at a Bird of Prey assembly presented by Christine’s Critters, Inc, of Weston.

Christine Peyreigne — who offered the PTA-sponsored presentation with her mother, Betsy Peyreigne — started Christine’s Critters to help rescue and rehabilitate animals.

“I fell in love with animals at a young age,” Christine Peyreigne told the gathered students.

She became a falconer by the age of 16, and by 18 she was a wildlife rehabilitator.

“I wanted to do something to help these birds,” she said.

All of the animals brought to Head O’ Meadow for the event were animals that were rescued but could not be returned to the wild.

“Every single bird that we bring out today was found in Connecticut,” Christine Peyreigne explained.

The first animal to be brought out was a northern saw-whet owl named Higgins. Betsy Peyreigne shared that Higgins came to Christine’s Critters after being dragged into a house by a pet cat. He was found under a bed, with injuries. Higgins perched on Betsy Peyreigne’s hand as she walked him around the assembly for students to see more closely.

Other animals introduced to the students at the assembly included an eastern screech owl, a peregrine falcon, a barred owl, a red-tailed hawk, a wild turkey, and a python.

More information about Christine’s Critters is available at christinescritters.org.