Two young spotted eagle owls, raised in an EcoSolutions owl box at Jenny Bragge’s Cresta home, have received their identification rings, joining a long-term bird-monitoring programme.

The owlets had already left the box and were spending time in Bragge’s garden, a normal stage in their development. Young spotted eagle owls often leave the nest before they can fly confidently, sheltering in bushes and other safe spaces while they strengthen their wings and build their flying and hunting skills. Their parents continue to feed and protect them throughout this period.

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EcoSolutions’ Caitlin Brodie and ecologist Alison Hepplestone visited the property, together with Arjen van Zwieten, a registered SAFRING bird ringer. Van Zwieten carefully fitted each owlet with a lightweight metal ring carrying a unique identification number. The rings form part of long-term bird monitoring, and if either owl is spotted again later in life, its number can be linked back to the original ringing record. The rings do not track the birds like GPS devices, but future sightings can offer valuable information about their survival, movements and lifespan.

The owlets were estimated to be around five to six weeks old and appeared healthy. They were alert during the ringing process and both handled the brief examination well. The occasion drew interest from residents across the complex, with several coming to see the young owls and learn more about how ringing works.

Bragge, who has a long history of owls using the box on her property, was thrilled to see this latest pair successfully raised there. “Small, fierce and utterly unforgettable, the moments we shared with the baby owls left us entirely enchanted. What a profound privilege it has been to watch them grow,” she said.

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EcoSolutions manages and monitors an extensive network of urban owl boxes across Gauteng and other parts of South Africa. The boxes give spotted eagle owls and barn owls extra breeding sites in areas where natural nesting spots may be limited. Annual servicing keeps the boxes safe and suitable for breeding, allowing the EcoSolutions team to spot weathering, damaged parts or unsuitable substrate and carry out repairs before they affect a nesting family.

After ringing, the owlets were returned to the garden within their parents’ territory, where they will continue their normal development under parental care.

Spotted eagle owls are well adapted to Johannesburg’s suburbs and help control rodents and insects naturally. Residents can support urban owl populations by avoiding rat poison, which can harm owls and other animals that eat poisoned rodents, and by maintaining owl-friendly green spaces and safe nesting spots.

For more information about EcoSolutions’ owl box programme, annual servicing and poison-free rodent control, contact 072 365 9777 or visit www.ecosolutions.co.za.

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