Resident owls in Woodlands visited their neighbours last week.
A very excited Woodlands resident, Kamiela Daniels, sent TygerBurger dozens of pics of the “baby” owls last Wednesday after they left the nest and went visiting.
“The baby owls are out today,” she said. “Right here by my next door neighbour’s fence.”
Daniels said the owl nest has been in the area for a very long time though it has moved between trees. She said she can recall seeing the owls, including watching the mother feed the babies, for the last 17 years at least.
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“They come and go and we have to protect the babies when they fly from the tree and cannot find their way back. We keep them safe wherever they land on our balcony or doorstep until they find their way again,” Daniels said.
Daniels’ neighbour Sedick Holt added: “We are a wildlife friendly neighbourhood.”
More about owls
The owls, according to Google, are juvenile spotted eagle-owls. The species is one of the most common and widespread in southern Africa and are known to adapt to living in towns and cities, often nesting on buildings or window ledges.
“Juvenile owls, like the one pictured,” Google’s AI supplied, “often leave the nest to explore the surrounding area when they are around 30 to 35 days old. The parents of the juvenile owl will likely be nearby, looking after it.
“They are nocturnal and typically roost during the day in trees, on cliff ledges, or in abandoned buildings.”
According to the AI, the owls are good neighbours to have because they help to keep urban pest populations under control.
“Their diet consists mainly of rodents, small mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects,” the AI said.
“The species has adapted well to living with people and will nest on or in buildings, on window ledges, or in owl boxes.”
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