Potted Plant Owls are back in Johannesburg

[Bobbie Ireland]

DG, is there a live cam for this? I cannot seem to find it... Ta!

Used to be Bobbie, they took it down last year! They just blog and post pics once in a while.

Ahhhhh! Too bad. Thanks!!

 

[AlisonL]

Such great news about a second clutch for PPO and Pappa. So happy for them.

From the site this evening:

Two chicks confirmed. One egg still in the nest.

[Donna]

Meet Santa and Claus, so it say's on fb! 

[Donna]

We survived the horrible firecrackers last night and are here to say Happy New Year! (Claus / Santa hiding under PPO)   from fb   

[MAK]

So pretty! 

[Donna]

Today we put up the additional perches around the sides of the pot. Within an hour, PPO is sitting on one of the perches and given us our full view of Santa and Claus in the daytime. They are getting so big, so fast. Eyes are open and the white, fluffy feathers have been replaced by grey feathers. 1-5

A strange 'CLUNK' sound woke Allan up last night. Thinking a burglar was prowling outside, he got up and checked outside carefully before going back to sleep. A short while later, another 'CLUNK' woke Allan up again, followed by a soft hoot. This time Allan looked onto the balcony and there, on the new wooden perches we put up for the owls, Pappa was delivering food. The 'CLUNK' was him landing on the new perches. Mystery of the prowler solved, Allan fell asleep again and didn't wake up 'til 'true' morning. 1-6

[MAK]

Today we put up the additional perches around the sides of the pot. Within an hour, PPO is sitting on one of the perches and given us our full view of Santa and Claus in the daytime. They are getting so big, so fast. Eyes are open and the white, fluffy feathers have been replaced by grey feathers. 1-5

A strange 'CLUNK' sound woke Allan up last night. Thinking a burglar was prowling outside, he got up and checked outside carefully before going back to sleep. A short while later, another 'CLUNK' woke Allan up again, followed by a soft hoot. This time Allan looked onto the balcony and there, on the new wooden perches we put up for the owls, Pappa was delivering food. The 'CLUNK' was him landing on the new perches. Mystery of the prowler solved, Allan fell asleep again and didn't wake up 'til 'true' morning. 1-6

 

[Donna]

All quiet and good on the PPO home front. Santa and Claus are big now - but still in the pot and no signs of exploring - just yet. Seems like we may have a situation of chicks only exploring and leaving the nest when both are ready and able. Will post pics soon.

From FB

[Donna]

It's 7pm and both chicks are running around the balcony floor. One chick (think Claus) knocked over the broom, then jumped on the brush part and attacked it. Really funny to watch them.

That's all she wrote!   

[Kris G.]

Very sad news to report:
A few hours ago, our neighbour called us over to her garden. Her dogs had attacked an owl. I rushed over, and there, lying with its badly broken wings, was one of the chicks. We're not 100% sure who it is - Santa or Claus. I rested the broken owl on my chest, its wings splayed out mangled, and we rushed it off to our bird specialist vet. Unfortunately, its injuries and suffering was too much, and it had to be put down.
I ask that you are aware of the plight of wild creatures, especially in an urban environment.
I ask that you pass on this message to anyone within close proximity of nesting owls, or other young wild creatures. Despite our warnings of owls moving around to everyone living near us, and despite us asking repeatedly for people to be mindful of dogs, this happened. The poor chick didn't stand a chance with three mauling dogs.
I ask that you do not reply to this post with tales of similar horror stories. Now is not the time to share this 'information' as the hurt is very much raw - for us, and especially for PPO and Pappa.
On our return home from the vet, another neighbour told me the surviving chick had just flown into the same neighbour's garden (with the dogs). Again, I rushed over and searched high and low for the chick, and couldn't see anything.
All the time, PPO was sounding her alarm call when I approached the area that we found the chick. Eventually PPO flew away - realising that her chick wasn't there.
A short time after that, I saw two owls on the rooftop. As one of the owls flew off, I heard a familiar hissing sound coming from over the wall (on the wetland side). PPO flew in some food that Pappa had just given her for the surviving chick.
I hope not to see the chick again anywhere near here - until it is flying perfectly. The thought of what happened to the other one, and what it looked like dying on my chest and looking up at me, is something I never wish to repeat.

Fly free, little one.   

[Annette]

That is so sad 

[MAK]

  

[carla]

So sad.I used to follow them when there was a cam.
Thanks for posting Kris

[Bobbie Ireland]

Oooooooooo! So sorry! Little thing.

[Donna]

I felt sick when I read that on FB. I was stunned. This is horrific, the poor little one!! Hope #2 stays away from that yard!! I would be traumatized for life if I saw that!  Fly free, at least you tried!