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Bright eyes: Owls keep nature’s ‘pests’ in check

Bright eyes: Owls keep nature’s ‘pests’ in check

ALTHOUGH many cultures associate owls with bad luck, the large-eyed nocturnal bird is useful to people.

A booklet, ‘The Owls Of Namibia – Identification and General Information’, notes that owls are one of nature’s best pest controllers. Although most owls are nocturnal, some species hunt during the day, usually in the early dawn and late dusk.The book says there are about 9 000 species of birds in the world and less than 150 of these are owls.In Africa, there are 45 owl species, 11 of which are found in Namibia.The Namibian owl species belong to two families: 10 species to the family Strigidae and only one, the barn owl, to the family Tytonidae.Because homes, agricultural crops, food stores and gardens attract pests such as mice, rats, insects and seed-eating birds, owls are useful to people because they eat these pests.”Owls are useful in that they prey on these pests and therefore help control them,” says the booklet.However, as with other wild creatures, owls are threatened by pollution of the environment, which can poison and kill their food resources.The booklet says the use of poisonous chemicals, especially pesticides for killing insects and rodents, is by far the most serious threat to owls in Namibia and probably in the world.People probably associate owls with bad luck because of their eerie calls in the night.But not all people consider owls a bad omen, says the booklet.In some cultures, owls are thought to be ancient, wise and even helpful.”In more recent literature, such as in the famous Harry Potter stories, owls are clever and help the students by carrying their mail and messages,” says the publication.The booklet was developed by the Namibia Animal Rehabilitation, Research and Education Centre (Narrec), which looks after sick, injured or orphaned animals.- Compiled by Absalom Shigwedha AMAZING FACTS ABOUT OWLS n The record lifespan for a large type of owl is 40 years.n A clutch of 16 eggs was laid by a barn owl in a year when there was a rodent plague n During breeding, a barn owl with six chicks on the nest will kill an average of 30 large mice every night for more than 100 days.This is 3 000 rodents in just over three months.n A Verreaux’s (giant) eagle owl can peel a hedgehog.Although most owls are nocturnal, some species hunt during the day, usually in the early dawn and late dusk.The book says there are about 9 000 species of birds in the world and less than 150 of these are owls.In Africa, there are 45 owl species, 11 of which are found in Namibia.The Namibian owl species belong to two families: 10 species to the family Strigidae and only one, the barn owl, to the family Tytonidae.Because homes, agricultural crops, food stores and gardens attract pests such as mice, rats, insects and seed-eating birds, owls are useful to people because they eat these pests.”Owls are useful in that they prey on these pests and therefore help control them,” says the booklet.However, as with other wild creatures, owls are threatened by pollution of the environment, which can poison and kill their food resources.The booklet says the use of poisonous chemicals, especially pesticides for killing insects and rodents, is by far the most serious threat to owls in Namibia and probably in the world.People probably associate owls with bad luck because of their eerie calls in the night.But not all people consider owls a bad omen, says the booklet.In some cultures, owls are thought to be ancient, wise and even helpful.”In more recent literature, such as in the famous Harry Potter stories, owls are clever and help the students by carrying their mail and messages,” says the publication.The booklet was developed by the Namibia Animal Rehabilitation, Research and Education Centre (Narrec), which looks after sick, injured or orphaned animals.- Compiled by Absalom Shigwedha AMAZING FACTS ABOUT OWLS n The record lifespan for a large type of owl is 40 years.n A clutch of 16 eggs was laid by a barn owl in a year when there was a rodent plague n During breeding, a barn owl with six chicks on the nest will kill an average of 30 large mice every night for more than 100 days.This is 3 000 rodents in just over three months.n A Verreaux’s (giant) eagle owl can peel a hedgehog.

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