Ringing is a hoot for Fourways residents
BROADACRES – Barn owls located soon to be set free to fly after getting SAF rings from Eco Solutions.
Four owls are set to be released after being successfully ringed in the Stratford Gardens Estate recently.
Now that the owls are seven weeks old, they can fly around independently. Zander van Manen from EcoSolutions gave a brief talk to the crowd gathered in the open parking of the estate, which comprised a few young children with their parents and residents of the complex.
He explained some of the reasons owls get the South African Ringing Scheme rings placed on them, namely for data capturing purposes in the future. “If the owl is picked up later, whether it is injured, dead or whatever the case is, we would have a track record of the owl. How old the owl is, where it came from, the fledgeling distance, how far it has gone, and which new territory it has picked up, and in what state it is,” Van Manen said.
“For members of the public, we would call it citizen science since it would be someone who picks up the owl and sends through the ring number alongside a few photos.
“We would then get feedback, and thus us getting assistance from civilians.”
Resident Haydn Davies, who is also part of the Stratford Gardens Homeowners Association, said he has been looking after and feeding the owls since they were placed at the estate three weeks ago.
“We have been working with EcoSolutions since 2009 in a specific programme. We take two or three pairs [of owls] a year when they need help, and then we look after them and then release them.”
With the partnership that the estate has, EcoSolutions comes with nesting owl boxes places all around the complex. The main parking lot is spacious enough for owls once they are released.
“We [Stratford Gardens Homeowners Association] do this to support Eco Solutions and support the owl population because it’s the right thing to do. It’s for everyone’s benefit, and it’s also to educate the youngsters on the benefits of owls,” said Davies.
Davies added that when released owls are in a difficult position and cannot find food, they will come back for the first few nights and throw dead chicks on the roof of the holding enclosure. “From the complex, they can go to Dainfern, Cedar Lakes and Green Belts from Stratford due to their open spaces and being safer,” Davies concluded.
