MORE OWLS....

11APRIL 2011:
QUESTIONS I STILL NEED TO ANSWER ABOUT MY OWL PROJECT:

LIST OF OWLS:

žSOUTHERN WHITE FACED OWLS

žBARN OWLS (TYTO ALBA)

žSPOTTED EAGLE OWLS (BUBO AFRICANUS)

žVERREAUX’S/GIANT EAGLE OWLS

žMARSH OWLS
AND NIGHTJAR

REASONS I CHOSE OWLS:

žMY FIRST REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS SPECIFIC TOPIC IS THAT, I FOUND MYSELF A BIT UNINFORMED ABOUT BIRDS. SO FOR MY OWN LEARNING I HAVE DECIDED THAT I WANT TO BROADEN MY KNOWLEDGE ON BIRDS, STARTING WITH OWLS. MY NEXT REASON IS THAT I AM CURRENTLY WORKING IN A WILDLIFE CENTRE THAT CONTAINS ALL OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED OWLS AND I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THEM.

žI WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR SPECIFICS, SOMETHING EXTRA THAT I AND THE WILDLIFE CENTRE STAFF DON’T KNOW, IF POSSIBLE. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO COMPARE THESE DIFFERENT OWLS AND SEE WHAT THEY HAVE IN COMMON. THIS IS ALSO A WAY FOR THE GUIDES AT THE WILDLIFE CENTRE, TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THESE ANIMALS. THIS CAN BE PRESENTED TO THE GUESTS THAT COME FOR TOURS. IT WILL ALSO HELP IN THE ANSWERING OF THE QUESTIONS THEY MIGHT HAVE.

žI ALSO WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HOW TO FISCALLY HANDLE THESE TYPE OF BIRDS AND HOW BIG THERE ENCLOSURES SHOULD BE IF REHABILITATING. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO DO RESEARCH AND SEE WHETHER THERE IS ANY TOYS THAT WE MAY USE IN THEIR CAGES, SOMETHING TO KEEP THEM BUSY WITH. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE IN DETAIL WHY THESE OWLS COME IN. WOULD WANT TO RELEASE THEM IN AN AREA AND ALSO PUT UP NESTS IN THAT SPECIFIC AREA FOR THEM.

31 QUESTIONS REGARDING MY RESEARCH ON THE OWLS OF SONDELA WLC:

1.What will be their ideal

habitat in captivity?

2.What can we do for

stimulation?

3.How big does the area

need to be where they are

kept in? (minimum space)

4.How much space do they

need to fly around?

5.What would be their ideal

meals?

6.Do they need any nests to

hide/breed in?

7.How many chicks will they

raise at a time?

8.What are the proper ways to

handle these owls?

9.Would you situate them next to other animals for example cats?

10.Do they need to have water in their cages?

11.When will be the appropriate time to feed these owls?

12.Are there any diseases that we need to be aware of?

13.Do they need to be closed off in the day, or can they be in the sun?

14.Do they need sunlight for any extra vitamins?

15.Do any noises bother/distract them?

16.When rehabilitating them, do they need any attention from you? (seeing that they will normally have a partner)

17.Which animals do they fear?

18.What is the incubation period?

19.How big is their wingspan?

20.What is the biggest owl they have ever found in their specific species?

21.Do we need to trim their nails when they are in captivity?

22.How do small owls learn to hunt, when they are hand raised?

23.Is there an opportunity to start a release program?

24.Why do most of the owls get hit by cars?

25.Are the owls that get hit by cars adults or young?

26.Are there any breeding programS to be followed?

27.Can we present night tours, where we give live rodents to the owls?

28.What are the guest’s opinions on the owls in the wildlife centre?

29.What types of owls are we able to accommodate at the wildlife centre?

30.Do we need to put out nesting boxes for them? (when releasing)

31.How big must the nesting boxes be?