Poison-Free Suburbs

The Owl Box Project

The main aim and importance of the Owl Box Project is to create safe and suitable breeding sites for both the Spotted Eagle Owl (Bubo africanus) and the Barn Owl (Tyto alba). Both these owl species are found in the greater Gauteng area and from the number of youngsters handed into ourselves, the zoo and rehabilitation centres (150+ p/a). It has been established that breeding sites are a limiting factor in the ability for these owl species to maintain populations relative to potential carrying capacities.

Owl Box location

The key to location is more about finding a place that is relatively undisturbed instead of a specific tree or site. Undisturbed is not necessarily a remote tree at the bottom of the garden - owls in urban areas are comfortable with cars, driveways, kids, dogs, and cats. Undisturbed really covers direct disturbance. A place where people cannot easily access the box and remove chicks or bang against the box which would cause the owls to leave the box during the day. Disturbing an owl in a breeding box during the day is problematic. The female will often not return to the box until nightfall and consequently, the chicks are left unprotected from crows, cats and other potential predators of small chicks and eggs. In addition, the owlets, and eggs, without the female to shield them can be exposed to long periods of sunlight or high winds and afternoon showers. If we must disturb an owl - for ringing purposes for instance - it is always undertaken at dusk as this allows the female to return to the box quickly once the ringing has been completed.

The correct orientation of an owl box is always a topic for discussion. It has been said that the box must face south, north, east, or west from an “authority” on the topic. Alongside is a graph indicating preference percentages for 60 occupied owl boxes. The graph indicates a strong North (45%) or South (36%) preference. 

West and East facing boxes appear to be less attractive to owls. We use the word ''appear'' because we are not sure if there aren't numerous variables and biases that contribute to this graph that has nothing to do with an orientation preference. The majority of houses in the Southern Hemisphere are North facing in order to maximise winter sun and summer shade. When EcoSolutions installs an owl box, we generally face the box towards the home of the client in order for them to see into and monitor the box for occupancy. As a result, these boxes would have a South orientation. In many gardens with North orientated homes, we often place the owl box in the more secluded “back” garden. This would result in the owl house having a North orientation. We very seldom place boxes with the entrance of the box facing away from the house i.e. East or West. This may account for the lower occupancy percentage as indicated on the graph. As a consequence of this installation bias, it is almost impossible at this stage to categorically say that there is an orientation preference. Establishing an orientation preference is still an ongoing undertaking and we are adding data relating to orientation on completion of each owl box service.

Occupancy

Probably one of the most frequently asked questions that we receive from prospective and excited clients regarding their new owl box is “How long before we have owls?” 15 years along and this is still a question that we are unable to answer. What we can tell you is based on the 150 plus EcoSolutions owl boxes that are serviced and occupied nationally. We have experienced owls occupying owl boxes within two weeks from the installation date however, this is far from the norm. The large majority of our occupied owl boxes have taken anything from 2 - 5 years before occupancy occurs.

That is the reality of it, you could be waiting for 5 years for occupancy to occur; that is if you experience occupancy at all. The data that we have collected over the course of this project has allowed us to provide you with a blueprint which ensures that everything that can be done to create a viable owl breeding site, has been done. It must be stated that in order for us to collect and interpret data collected through this programme, the unoccupied boxes are just as important to our findings as the occupied ones. Occupancy trends can be established, areas with low occupancy can be identified and perhaps corrected. It is through the collation of information that this project produces the results that it does. At this stage, one thing that we can say is that our data clearly confirms that the potential occupancy of your owl box is directly related to its annual service and maintenance.

Management and Maintenance of Owl Boxes

The most important component in an owl box is not it's design, it's colour or even its location. It is the pea gravel substrate within the box. This substrate allows owls to form a ''cup'' in which to lay their eggs and raise their young. Without it, the box is not an owl box - it will not be used by owls and is really just a box high up in your tree. Why does my owl box need to be serviced annually and the substrate replaced? Owl boxes are designed to replicate a cavity in a tree. Although Johannesburg is well treed, the majority of the trees are alive and unlike dead trees, do not have natural cavities. As a result, your owl box will attract the attention and fill the requirements for many cavity breeding and roosting residents. It is fine for squirrels, Egyptian geese, Genets and other birds to use it out of season. However, these usurpers bring sticks, paper, litter and all sorts of things into the box. Unless these are removed, owls will not utilise your owl box to breed in. Twice a year, prior to the owl breeding season,

EcoSolutions undertakes to clean out the box and replace the substrate necessary for owl occupation. In addition, a bi-annual service allows us to check that the box is still firmly attached, provide it with a new coat of varnish and make sure that the bee proofing is still intact. Additionally, the service component allows us to seamlessly introduce improved designs, greater expertise and understanding into our programme. If our data reveals that a specific orientation is optimum for successful occupancy, we will implement this during your annual service.

Potential Owl Release Program Sites

EcoSolutions is actively involved in several educational programmes. We conduct owl releases through Schools, Food Gardens and Eco-Estates around Gauteng. These areas allow us to create reasonably large poison free zones which lend themselves to owl habitation. We currently have roughly 60 schools and 15 estates involved in the owl release programme. Since the inception of this programme over 88 000 children have been involved.

Owls are both fascinating and beautiful creatures. Their presence on your property offers hours of intriguing viewing and entertainment, furthermore, they provide an efficient and environmentally friendly means of pest control. Participation in the owl release programme has captured the imagination of both adults and children alike. Feeding teams and rosters, release day countdowns and post-release observations have all left participants feeling a sense of accomplishment and a greater appreciation for the avian fauna that occurs within their surroundings.

Signage

It is always recommended that signage is placed below installed owl boxes in green areas such as parks and public spaces. The signs allow residents and members of the public insight into the environmentally responsible manner in which the members of The Owl Box Project are controlling their rodent and insect populations. It also enhances a green ethos and in some cases, has resulted in the more dedicated and frequent use of waste bins. It tends to create a green and environmentally friendly consciousness which impacts on both residents and visitors alike. The signs provide a contact number where members of the public can report sightings and observations. In previous suburb installation sites, it has produced a greater understanding of rodents and rodent-related issues.

Humane Rodent Traps

EcoSolutions is the sole distributor of the E2 Humane rodent trap. This trap is designed for indoor and outdoor use and is manufactured in New Zealand.

We currently have 300 traps installed nationally which we service on a monthly basis. Please feel free to watch the video here. If you are interested in including these traps into your rodent control programme, please feel free to contact us.