Owl Box project

Gauteng, Northwest and the Western Cape provinces are home to numerous pairs of both Spotted Eagle Owls and Barn Owls. These owls live and breed within the green belts that wind their way through the suburbs. Many owls hunt within suburban gardens and although food is available, breeding sites are in short supply.

The provision of breeding sites within suburban gardens is the aim of the Urban Owl Project, run by EcoSolutions. Through the positioning of owl boxes with a suitable pea gravel substrate, pairs of owls begin to utilise these artificial nest boxes in which to lay eggs and rear their young. The resident owls occupying these nest boxes contribute to the control of rodents as well as numerous insect species.

The Urban Owl Box Project is to be undertaken over a five-year period. This will allow for young owls fledged from the nesting boxes to take up residency in boxes of their own. Young owls raised in owl boxes have a strong predisposition (“natal recognition”) towards nesting boxes when they reach maturity (2-3 years). Owls generally breed once a year and usually rear between 2 and 5 youngsters.

If you are subject to rat or mice infestations, please DO NOT lay down rat poison. Not only is this extremely dangerous for cats and dogs, but this method, in combination with habitat loss is leading to a drastic decline in owl numbers. Rather consider attracting an owl to your garden which will in turn keep your rodent numbers down!

Owls in Suburbia

Owls are both fascinating and beautiful animals. Their presence in your garden offers hours of intriguing viewing. Furthermore they provide an efficient means for pest control. The two most common species in Gauteng are the Barn Owl and the Spotted-eagle Owl. Whilst these owls are strikingly different in appearance, both species exhibit many similar adaptations.

It is these adaptations that have enabled owls to survive thus far. These adaptations range from their specially designed wings, which allow them to listen for prey whilst on the wing, to light sensitive eyes enabling them to detect prey in low light conditions. This complexity of design is the basis for the success of the owl as a species, however this specialisation means that owls are relatively susceptible to environmental change. This is where the project comes in.

Whilst there is no doubt that there is an Owl population within Gauteng it remains unclear as to how long this will be the case. The key to extracting maximum enjoyment from your owl box is simply INTEREST. Be interested and observant, otherwise those golden moments and unforgettable interactions will be missed. The first flights from the box, the youngsters catching insects on the lawn. These moments occur all the time…

Breeding

Owls breed from late autumn through summer, however breeding habits are very variable, relying primarily on prey availability and suitable breeding sites. Likewise the number of eggs produce varies dramatically. Barn owls are able to alter their breeding habits in response to prey numbers. The greater the abundance of prey the greater the number of chicks produced, allowing owls to better combat prey population sizes.

This is exceedingly useful in controlling populations prone to growth explosions i.e., rodent and insect species. During the period in which the owls breed activity is centred around the box. Food exchanges and vocalisation is common and is a key indication to breeding activity. This is the most exciting period, the owlets leave the box approximately 4-5 weeks after hatching. The youngsters however are poor fliers and very curious which enables one to observe them closely.

Youngsters are inclined to perch close to the ground and exhibit all the playfulness of young kittens. Watching the owlets play on the lawn is a truly unforgettable experience. During the remainder of the year the box will see less activity, although once owls have bred in the box they will continue to utilize it year after year. The owls will remain in the vicinity in order to protect their territory of which the box is an important component.

Frequently asked questions

If you wish to have an owl box on your property please note the following:
1. You must have a tree in your garden that is at least 5-7m in height. The type of tree is not particularly important, but we must be able to get up a tree of that approximate height in order to erect your owl box. If you do not have a tree we can erect the owl box on a pole.

2. Domestic cats and dogs pose no problem to having an owl. Most of our participants have all types of domestic animals and nature tends to live in harmony very nicely. Owls eat mostly rodents and we have not had a single complaint of an owl worrying cats or vice versa. We occasionally hear of an owl low-flying over dogs that go sniffing around the bottom of a tree in which owl chicks are nesting.

While there is no actual threat to the dogs, when the chicks are on the ground, (as they sometimes are when they are learning to fly), we often advise our members to keep their dogs inside for the 3-4 days that the chicks go on the ground. After that they are able to fly and there is no further problem.

3. Owls will not generally impact on the avian wildlife in your garden. Most garden birds are diurnal, whereas owls are nocturnal. As such, they keep a different timetable to the owls and neither interferes with the other

Should the Owl Box Project be of interest to you, visit the EcoSolutioins website for more information, sign up for their informative newsletter, order your box and make Owls welcome in our beautiful suburb!
Visit: http://www.ecosolutions.co.za