Remaining barn owl nursed at JWVH
GLENFERNESS – The barn owls were found in an estate in Northern Johannesburg.
The Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital (JWVH) in Glenferness has been assisting a young barn owl found outside a dustbin in an estate in northern Johannesburg recently.
The young owl’s four siblings were found dead inside the dustbin.
Dr Karin Lourens of JWVH said that when the owl was admitted, he was very weak, lethargic, dehydrated and non-responsive. He was immediately placed on a drip and slowly started showing signs of improvement.
He also sustained a fracture on his lower beak, though fortunately it is only on one side and is not displaced, therefore not needing surgical correction.
Director at EcoSolutions Jonathan Haw spoke to the Review after visiting the estate on 20 April. He said that it is suspected the owls were breeding behind pigeon netting and a pigeon company was called to remove the pigeons, with them unknowingly also removing the owls. Haw said that urban wildlife is meant to cohabit with humans, but sometimes owls can be irritating and cause noise or mess.
He advised irritated residents to contact the SPCA who has a list of accredited facilities that will come and assist residents. EcoSolutions is one such facility that may instal an owl box further away from your property which might make it easier for humans and owls to cohabit.
He said that despite the sad situation of seeing four owls pass away, owls have the ability to recover and go through the process of relaying eggs and nesting again.
Haw concluded that EcoSolutions plans to instal an owl box near where the chicks were found where it is expected that the owls will be able to nest safely again.
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