VEREENIGING – River Square Shopping Centre says it has installed six owl nesting boxes as part of its Conservation and Biological Rodent Control Programme.

Designed to support native Barn Owls and Spotted Eagle Owls, the initiative promotes natural pest control while protecting vital urban wildlife. Barn Owls (Tyto alba) and Spotted Eagle Owls (Bubo africanus) are known for their role in controlling rodent populations, helping to maintain ecological balance. A single Barn Owl can consume dozens of rodents each night, while the Spotted Eagle Owl’s diet also includes small mammals, insects, birds, and reptiles.

The nesting boxes are timed to coincide with the owls’ breeding seasons — late summer to spring for Barn Owls and August to December for Spotted Eagle Owls — providing safe and undisturbed sites for raising young.

River Square emphasizes the importance of poison-free rodent control, warning that rat poisons pose a severe threat to these birds by contaminating their prey.

To raise awareness, informational signage and a QR code are displayed near the boxes, encouraging visitors to learn more about protecting urban owls.

Beyond wildlife conservation, River Square is advancing a range of sustainability projects to reduce its environmental impact. These include a greywater recycling system for landscape irrigation, a solar energy installation reducing electricity use and emissions, and an indigenous tree park that supports local biodiversity while providing an educational green space.

With these initiatives, River Square demonstrates a strong commitment to creating a safer, greener environment for both the community and urban wildlife.