News

Owls Online 2021

I can't believe that it is nearing the end of June and this is the first official newsletter of the year. 2021 is definitely flying by!

Owls 'prey' to be rescued from trafficking

"Fuelled by various myths and superstitions, the nocturnal bird is illegally trafficked in thousands during Diwali." Owls have sustained a vivid presence in folklore, myths, and legends. However, their interesting intellect and persona also make them at risk of superstitious rituals, in turn making them prone to poaching and illicit trafficking.

Owls replace pesticides in Israel

Owls and kestrels are being employed as agricultural pest controllers in the Middle East.

Owls Sing Duets Until Eggs Are Laid

Valentine’s Day is well-timed for some of the first courtship displays of the early breeders — owls. Even with snow in the branches and blanketing the ground, hearts are all aflutter, and focused on bringing another generation into being.

Owls Well That Ends Well For Lost Bird

An owl and her owners have returned to the Giant's Causeway to thank National Trust staff and local people who helped reunite them. Patricia O'Callaghan and Terry Turkington were holidaying on the north coast two weeks ago when their beloved barn owl Arya escaped.

"Ozzy Osbourne to install bat boxes at Buckinghamshire mansion 40 years after biting head off one"

"The rock icon once bit the head off a live bat on stage - but these days he is taking a more sympathetic view towards the animals."

Parkhurst residents aim to make the suburb an ideal site for owls

The Parkhurst suburb of Gauteng is aiming to become the first rodenticide free suburb in South Africa. This will be achieved through a combination of commitment from Parkhurst residents, owl boxes, environmental design, humane rat traps and EcoSolutions' rodent flashers. EcoSolutions Urban Ecology is very proud to be a part of this initiative.

"Perennial Crops Boost Biodiversity Both On and Off Farms. Researchers Explain How."

"Above and belowground, perennial crops including wheat, grasses, trees, and more provide habitat and nutrition to creatures that help make ecosystems whole."

Placing SAFrings on Barn Owls (Tyto alba) at Aspen Hills Estate

Aspen Hills Nature Estate has been playing the role of surrogate parents to 5 Barn Owls.

Poisoned Rats Infecting Predators

As rodent numbers increase, so do poison sales. Turns out that ridding the cities and towns of rats may be contributing to harming most of the predators that feed on them.

Poultry Producers Face Restrictions On Rat Poisoning

Poultry farmers will have to prove their competency in handling rat poison, following the introduction of a new generation of products coming to market later this year. It is already acknowledged that resistance in rat populations is growing, and in some areas none of the existing poisons authorised for outdoor use are working

Powerful owls are gentle giants stalking our suburbs, but they are also on the edge

"How shop-bought rodenticides could be threatening Australia’s powerful owl – video Such encounters are fortunately rare. “It is kind of a double-edged sword. If someone cares about something, they are more likely to take steps to protect it,” Isaac says. “It is good that people care about them, but we do have to limit our impact to the environment that they’re relying on, and also try not to cause those shifts in behaviour.”

"Preschoolers taught that owls are a hoot"

Project coordinator of Owlproject.org, Jordan Hardey, and owl ringer, Hussein Moyo, educate the children of Simply Kidz Academy on the importance of conservation.

Presentation on Owls and Bats

It seems that webinars, talks and classes online are the new norm. Jonathan Haw was invited to give a presentation by Green Renaissance and Whale Coast Conservation on the conservation of bats and owls in Southern Africa in July 2020. Feel free to watch the presentation on Facebook - link in the article.

Preservationists build new nests in Perryville to persuade owls to move in

Preservationists recently built some new, safer quarters for the barn owl population at the Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site here. The only problem is persuading the shy birds to move in.

Project sets up home for owls in Hamilton Park

Rosebank Killarney Gazette: An owl box was installed by EcoSolutions, and at the same time residents learned about poison-free rodent control.

Proposed Rat Poison Ban Protects Pets and Wildlife

California currently lacks a proper system for reporting pet poisonings and wildlife poisonings are often unknown to the public. Still, there have been hundreds of reports in recent years of pet and wildlife poisonings from rodenticides and there are most likely many more unreported incidents.

The urgent case for bat conservation

This article from EnviroNews Nigeria explores the crucial role bats play in maintaining healthy ecosystems and preventing future pandemics.