Eco Solutions rings in new furry friend

On 10 October Eco Solutions made their way to Kruinkloof Estate in Boskruin. The integrated pest management specialists were alerted to a resident in the estate who had previously requested the installation of two owl boxes. There was one serine owlet present in the box – it was said to be not older than a furry two weeks old.

Eager Boskruin residents gathered around to hear more about the sequence of events where owls were ringed by Sara Orchardson of Eco Solutions. Eco Solutions was started 20 years ago by Jonathan Haw, due to a lack of places for owls to breed. Orchardson explained that there was an abundance of owlets and food without secure cavities for them – this is where Eco Solutions stepped in.

Eco Solutions responded to a call by Jenny Kaiser, a resident at the retirement estate. This involved the placement of a simple metal band loosely around the ankle of the owl which is marked by a number which contained specific information about the origin of the owl as well as the date it was ringed.

The metal bands are sourced from the Animal Demography Unit at the University of Cape Town. The information about the owl is subsequently added to the South African Bird Ringing Unit which helps the organisation with information about the owl at a later date. This band was by no means a GPS device, however, with the knowledge of where it has come from, helped the owl experts with information if the owl was found sick or injured.

The two-week-old owlet which was ringed was a spotted eagle owlet. This species of owl was typically found in residential areas and breeds from June/July to November/December, once the winter solstice has occurred. Eco Solutions has over 100 occupied owl boxes in Gauteng and service them annually. They manufacture owl boxes or cavities for spotted eagle owls and barn owls, which are found in more secluded areas.

Details: Sara Orchardson 011 791 7326; 072 365 9777

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