15 April 2021 - Greater Kyalami Conservancy (GECKO)
I am privileged to be a member of the African Grass Owl Team who is responsible for monitoring the status of this vulnerable species in the Greater Kyalami Conservancy area. GECKO is green lung of large and small agricultural holdings and open space between Johannesburg and Pretoria. If you live in the Kyalami area and would like more information about GECKO, check out their Website - GECKO
The survey team is led by Anton van Niekerk and together with Richard Crawshaw we surveyed one of the known sites in the Conservancy. Whilst waiting to start the survey, this Red-headed Finch was checking us out
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| Male Red-headed Finch (Amadina erythrocephala) |
The African Grass Owl is a vulnerable species and is under threat from habitat loss due to increasing urbanisation. These secretive Owls depend on a specific type of wetland habitat to live and breed, as well as sufficient open grassland in which to hunt. Kyalami still offers sufficient open space and habitat to support a small population of these Owls.
We started our survey at one site, walking slowly from one end to the other where we found a Marsh Owl. This species uses different habitat within the same biome as the Grass Owl, so there is no competition for habitat
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| Marsh Owl (Asio capensis) |
A short while later, we found a ringed male Grass Owl, which was really exciting.
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| Ringed male African Grass Owl (Tyto capensis) |
We then headed to the next site and after some time, found a female that was on a nest. The nest had two very young birds and a single egg which was fantastic news. We didn't stay long, as is expected, so that she could return to her nest. Once the chicks are old enough, they will be ringed by the EWT team
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| Female African Grass Owl (Tyto capensis) |
There were a couple of Pied Crows around, but luckily the Owls were already well hidden in the grass. These marauding Crows will attack and kill the Owls if given the opportunity
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| Pied Crow (Corvus albus) |
Whilst walking the marsh and grasslands, we found Common Leopard
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| Common Leopard (Phalanta p. aethiopica) |
and a Broad Scarlet
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| Broad Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea) |
But today, it was all about these secretive, vulnerable and amazing Grass Owls that are resident in the area where I live - just amazing!
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