The eggs are incubated by the female, while the male provides the food. The young start leaving the nest and exploring at about four to six weeks and are normally flying by seven or eight weeks. At Delta Park, a pair of Spotted Eagle Owls only raised one chick in nine years as a result of inadequate natural nesting sites. Delta Environmental Centre is an environmental education. A missing element for the owls in the park was the presence of a safe nest site and by providing the box, spectacularly improved their breeding success. These days’ owls are rather revered, not for their symbolism, but for the very real reason that they keep rodent populations in check and they’re just amazingly well adapted animals. Despite all the myths and legends that surround these “wise” creatures, the reality of attracting owls to your garden is a wonderful way to marvel at these incredibly hunters of the dark. Be inspired & stay informed about Africa. Barn owls and spotted eagle owls have learnt to live in close proximity with humans. One primary prey species is rodents and here attracting an owl to your home can serve a positive purpose… as opposed to being the bearer of all things evil. Ideally the box should be shielded from rain and excessive sun by the trunk and foliage. They are able to breed at around one year of age. They usually make their nest on the ground but have been known to nest on man-made structures such as window ledges of buildings or in Owl Houses. Geoff was born, raised and educated in Johannesburg. They require a specific type of design to their owl box that is quite different from many of the other owls, but luckily rather simple to build. The female lays two to four eggs and does the incubation, leaving the nest only to eat what the male ha… However in Roman mythology the deaths of Julius Caesar as well as Commodus Aurelius were both supposedly predicted by an owl. The wood in both types of box is treated on … The spotted Eagle Owl box is a simple tray of the size shown. Ideally the box should be shielded from rain and excessive sun by the trunk and foliage. The spotted Eagle Owl box is a simple tray of the size shown. He focuses mainly on environmental education programmes. Spotted eagle-owls are monogamous, but will take a new mate shortly after the loss of a partner through death occurs. The eagle owl is the most common South African owl. Recordings of bird-song as well as stuffed specimens of birds found in the park form part of this programme, which complements the Sasol Sensory Trail for the physically challenged. Chicks hatch blind and begin to open their distinct yellow eyes after seven days. The details of how can be found here. A small landing area (15cm x 10cm) should be attached to the Barn Owl Box at the base of the access hole.The roof slopes towards the small front in the Barn Owl box, whilst the roof slopes the other way in the case of the Spotted Eagle Owl box. In a manner of speaking, well-known bird expert Geoff Lockwood is “part of the furniture” at Delta Environmental Centre. Spotted eagle owls are often hiding and resting during the day, in rocky ledges or amongst the thick foliage of tall trees. One of South Africa’s most common owl species is the spotted eagle owl (Bubo africanus). The roof is then fitted by screwing through it into the pillars. 1991. It should be securely anchored to a horizontal branch of a tree as high above ground as possible. One of South Africa’s most common owl species is the spotted eagle owl ( Bubo africanus ). His early interest in all things natural became progressively more focused towards birds, these being the most accessible and visually interesting form of wildlife to a young city kid. For this reason you will want to locate your box away from the hustle and bustle of your home. This could encourage owls to breed, or if they are breeding in the area, could improve their breeding success. If the site is very exposed, however, it … They show a high habitat tolerance and are found readily in urban areas where their choice of nests sites vary. In 1981, he wrote, illustrated and published the popular book, Garden Birds of Southern Africa. They predate predominantly on rodent and avian prey, but also take bats and snakes. The Apache believed that dreaming of an owl signified approaching death and in many African tribal beliefs, the presence of an owl on the roof, means a death in the family is imminent. If the site is very exposed, however, it may be advisable to fit a roof. Designs for the nest boxes for both the Spotted Eagle Owl and Barn Owl are shown below. Spotted eagle owls will mate for life and they usually lay around two to three white eggs at intervals of between one to four days. Breeding begins typically towards the end of July continuing to the first weeks of February. One doesn’t want to have to dodge a protective mother every time you go in and out of your home. A few weeks too early / late or a few kilometers off course and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. The details of how can be found here. Owls have captivated the human imagination for centuries and few animals have so many different and contradictory beliefs about them. Safari company Est. Weatherproof the box thoroughly with a non-toxic material and put a layer of clean river sand about 10 cm thick in the box. This should be placed high up in a tree (6 metres) and again the box should be shielded by the trunk and foliage. 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