The hatchlings which are still nesting in Stellenbosch are at threat of being displaced from their nests by high winds and the chopping down of trees.
This is according to Tracy Chalmers, the director and co-owner of Eagle Encounters, a wildlife rehabilitation, conservation and eco-tourism centre on Spier wine estate.
She gets inundated with calls from concerned residents asking what to do with birds that fall out of their nests, she says.
Earlier in the hatching season, Chalmers said that many people called her to report baby spotted eagle owls that they found on the ground. While it is great that people care, spotted eagle owls naturally jump out of the nests at two weeks old and grow up on the ground, said Chalmers.
Pictured above is a baby spotted eagle owl, named Gizmo, who is a resident at Eagle Encounters. Spotted eagle owls naturally jump from their nests at around 2 weeks old and grow up on the ground, said Tracy Chalmers, the director and co-owner of Eagle Encounters. “It’s a beautiful fluffy, grey little nunu with yellow eyes. We get inundated with calls,” said Chalmers. PHOTO: Supplied/Tracy Chalmers
Pictured above is an adult spotted eagle owl. Owls perform an important ecological function by reducing the population of vermin, said Tracy Chalmers, the director and co-owner of Eagle Encounters. “People have got to understand that these animals are actually keeping us safe and healthy, because they are taking out the vermin that are bringing the diseases,” said Chalmers. PHOTO: Supplied/ Tracy Chalmers
Only what’s necessary
The first thing to bear in mind when trying to help a bird is to interfere only when absolutely necessary, said Chalmers. “Unless it [a bird] is under threat from dogs, farm labourers, cars, somebody who might want to take the baby because they think it’s cute and hand raise it – leave it where it is.”
Broadly, parent birds are better at looking after baby birds than humans are, said Chalmers. “We are definitely the backup option,” she said.
Eagle Encounters is a specialist bird of prey centre, but has been forced to take on other animals, said Chalmers. This is because the network that exists to look after animals in need in the area has dwindled, in part due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, said Chalmers.
Timber
There is currently more awareness about preserving the lives of wildlife residing in trees which need to be felled than there was in the past, said Chris Stoddart, the owner of Stoddart tree care.
“In the old days they would just cut,” he said.
“As far as possible, we try not to just cut [the tree], and kill the birds or let harm come to them, but sometimes it’s unavoidable,” said Stoddart.
Chris Stoddart, the owner of Stoddart tree care, said that his staff have taken care of many birds which had to be removed from trees which needed to be felled. PHOTO: William Brederode
When birds are known to be nesting in a tree, fellings can be scheduled once the birds have left their nests, said Stoddart. If a felling must happen imminently due to safety concerns, efforts are taken to move nests to other trees, he said.
Danger from above
Another issue presented by hatchlings is that they may choose to nest in citizens’ roofs, said Tertius Linde, director at ITC pest control.
Roof nests result in droppings which carry pathogens that are detrimental to people’s health, bird lice issues and nests and grasses in the roof pose a fire risk, claimed Linde.
Various exclusion methods can be used to remove the birds, none of which are or should include poisoning or killing any type of bird, said Linde.
Tracy Chalmers the director and co-owner of Eagle Encounters, referenced a study which investigated the importance of owls in reducing vermin numbers. AUDIO: William Brederode