Paul Davison, owner of MP Fencing spent R15 000 erecting a fence around the tree to allow the owl to hatch her eggs and raise her chicks in peace.
After being made aware of the stone-throwing incident, Van Kervel Deputy Principal Mr Hennie Koegelenberg, contacted Mr Carlo van Tonder at CapeNature. The latter in turn informed Mr Stefan Hattingh, lecturer in Nature Conservation and Game Ranch Management at the NMMU, who is well-known in George for his rehabilitation of injured or poisoned birds of prey.
CapeNature had at first contemplated moving the owl and her eggs, but according to Hattingh, it would have been undesirable as owls are territorial and the female would have simply left the nest.
"Another option was to break the eggs so that the owl would leave, but this would definitely have conveyed the wrong message to the children," said Hattingh.
After some phone calls, he came upon MP Fencing who agreed to put up the fence according to specific requirements.
Educational project
Koegelenberg said the commotion around the owls has now given fruition to an educational project. The first year pupils will be doing some research on these birds of prey and will be making an owl box to fit to the tree in the hope that the pair will return during the breeding season every year.
Hattingh explained that owls breed from the end of July till September. By the end of October to December, the chicks start leaving the nest and learn to fly.
"They are then extremely vulnerable. They become prey to dogs and many chicks are killed by cars. They sit under street lights at night to catch brown beetles which are attracted by the lights. It is also the time when traffic in George almost doubles. People also pick them up, but they should rather let the chicks be."
Spotted Eagle Owls generally pair for life. After mating, the female lays two to three eggs and once they are hatched, the male owl goes into a frenzy of feeding the whole family, until the chicks have built up some strength. At this stage, the female joins in and both parents feed non-stop, mainly nocturnally, to help their chicks grow.
About 40 days after hatching, the chicks venture out of the nest. They walk around on the ground for about three weeks before the great flying adventure starts, which only happens over short distances in the beginning.
Owls eat a large number of rats, mice, insects and birds, including rock pigeons which can be pests in places such as school buildings.
Owl boxes
Hattingh runs a community project to make owl boxes which can be put up in gardens or at business premises to attract breeding pairs. The project creates work for deaf men. People who wish to buy a box, may send an e-mail to Stefan.Hattingh@nmmu.ac.za or phone him on 044 801 5111 (w).
* MP Fencing het 'n duur heining rondom 'n boom in Van Kervel Skool se tuin opgerig om 'n Gevlekte Ooruil wat daar broei te beskerm.
Mrs Charmaine Theron of Van Kervel points in the direction of the owl's nest which is now safely behind a fence. It was put up by Mr Paul Davison, owner of MP Fencing. Photo: Alida de Beer
ARTICLE: ALIDA DE BEER, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
