Three little owls take flight from Bryanston garden
An owl box in a Bryanston garden has provided a safe nesting place for three Spotted Eagle Owlets, offering a glimpse into how residents can support wildlife in urban neighbourhoods.
A Bryanston garden has become a safe nesting place for three spotted eagle owlets, highlighting the role residents can play in supporting wildlife in urban neighbourhoods.
EcoSolutions Urban Ecology visited Michelle Steytler’s home recently, where three spotted eagle owlets had been raised in an owl box.
Read more: Soweto learners get hands-on owl conservation experience in Sandton
During the visit, one of the young owls was safely fitted with an identification ring by registered bird ringer Arjen van Zwieten.
The owlet received Safring identification number 8-93200, which will help researchers identify it should it be encountered again. The other two owlets had already fledged and were perched in nearby trees, keeping a close eye on the visitors.
EcoSolutions team members Caitlin Brodie and Alison Hepplestone also attended. According to EcoSolutions ecologist Sara Orchardson, providing suitable nesting spaces is one of the ways to support wildlife in urban environments.
Also read: Soweto learners get hands-on owl conservation experience in Sandton
EcoSolutions Urban Ecology installs and services owl boxes in gardens, residential estates, farms and other landscapes, providing owls with suitable places to nest and raise their young.
The boxes are serviced annually to ensure they remain safe and in good condition. This includes cleaning, structural checks and maintenance.
The visit also highlighted the importance of bird ringing in conservation, with Safring, the South African Bird Ringing Unit based at the University of Cape Town, assigning individual identification numbers to birds.
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