Bloems get to ring Fourways Gardens owl

FOURWAYS – Karla and Hein Bloem from the International Owl Centre got to experience an owl ringing expedition in Fourways Gardens recently while they are in the country for a conference.

November 16, 2018

Robyn Kirk 2 minutes read

Hein and Karla Bloem from the International Owl Centre got to experience South African wildlife first-hand when they assisted Hussein Moyo in ringing the owlet. Photo: Robyn Kirk

Local owl lovers recently got to show international guests how Fourways cares for its owls.

Karla and Hein Bloem, the executive director and owl researcher at the International Owl Centre respectively, are in South Africa for a raptor conference which will be held in Skukuza in the coming days.

While they are in the country, staff from EcoSolutions invited the couple to experience the ringing of a spotted eagle owl up close and personal when the company undertook the task on 7 November inside the Fourways Gardens Estate.

The International Owl Centre is located in Minnesota, United States and educates the public about the animals while also hosting a hugely popular International Owl Festival every year. At this year’s festival in March, Jonathan Haw of EcoSolutions was given a special achievement award from the centre for his contributions to the study and conservation of owls.

“It’s great to have Hein and Karla here,” said Sara Orchardson of Ecosolutions during the Fourways Gardens visit.

“Jonathan was there [back in March] to see their work, so it’s lovely for them to see his work as well.”

The Fourways Gardens visit had two aims: An owl box which had been previously installed at the house was old and needed to be replaced, and a two-and-a-half week old owlet needed to be ringed for research purposes.

The owlet is about two and a half weeks old now, and will be able to fly in about six weeks. Photo: Robyn Kirk

EcoSolutions staff Hussein Moyo and Vincent Mchunu gently removed the owlet from the old box while its mother looked on from a nearby roof and carried it down to show a group of interested residents and the Bloems.

Karla Bloem was invited to hold the owlet still while Moyo placed a metal ring on the creature’s leg, which will be monitored by South African Ringing Scheme (SAFring) for research purposes.

While the owls were out of the old box, it was removed and a brand new box was installed in a different position out of the sun, which will hopefully be used by the same breeding pair to hatch more eggs next year.

“It was fantastic to be here today,” Karla said.

“The work being done here is good for owls, good for people and good for the environment.”

Hein added, “We can see from the reaction of the neighbours here that [EcoSolutions] is doing great work.

“And it’s great because owls are also a natural form of vermin control – we’d remind people to stay away from rat poison as it is so harmful.”

The owlet settled down in their new home nicely and was joined later on by its mother who heard its cries.

It will be able to fly in about six weeks’ time and will eventually go off to find its own territory, while its parents will most likely stay in the same area and reproduce again next year.