{"id":208437,"date":"2019-06-26T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-06-26T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/208437\/time-to-give-a-hoot-about-owls\/"},"modified":"2019-06-25T14:54:28","modified_gmt":"2019-06-25T12:54:28","slug":"time-to-give-a-hoot-about-owls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2019\/06\/26\/time-to-give-a-hoot-about-owls\/","title":{"rendered":"Time to give a hoot about owls"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cNo one likes rats, well except owls who love to eat them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>These are the words of Delina Chipape, project coordinator for Owlproject.org.<\/p><div class=\"stream-item stream-item-in-post stream-item-inline-post aligncenter\"><\/div>\n<p>The NPO recently visited the Germiston SPCA, as part of an ongoing project, to hang an owl box on the premises \u2013 in hopes of attracting an owl to help with the SPCA\u2019s rat problem.<\/p>\n<h4>ALSO READ:\u00a0<a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/207489\/spca-has-exciting-events-lined-up-for-mandela-day\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>SPCA has exciting events lined up for Mandela Day<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n<p>\u201cThe aim of the project is to attract owls to urban areas where rodents are a problem,\u201d explained Delina.<\/p><div class=\"stream-item stream-item-in-post stream-item-inline-post aligncenter\"><\/div>\n<p>\u201cWe have visited several other SPCAs as well.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRat poisons and other methods of pest control all come with harmful side effects to the environment, other animals and sometimes even humans but an owl is natural.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The box was hung by Shakes Mbongeni from EcoSolutions which assists Owlproject.org in their efforts by sponsoring the owl boxes.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_208440\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-208440\" style=\"width: 520px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-208440\" src=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2019\/06\/25GCNGENERALOWL_68628-520x390.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"520\" height=\"390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2019\/06\/25GCNGENERALOWL_68628-520x390.jpg 520w, https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2019\/06\/25GCNGENERALOWL_68628-270x203.jpg 270w, https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2019\/06\/25GCNGENERALOWL_68628-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2019\/06\/25GCNGENERALOWL_68628.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-208440\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shakes Mbongeni from EcoSolutions, who manufacture the owl boxes, installs an owl box high up in a tree at the Germiston SPCA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The company manufactures two different types of boxes each to imitate the natural environment of the owls, namely the barn owl and spotted eagle owl.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOwls have since been sighted in the area so now we just have to wait and see if the owls will be attracted to the box,\u201d explained Delina.<\/p>\n<p>Ward 36 councillor Wendy Morgan is excited by this project and it\u2019s potential.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are numerous areas where rats and mice are a problem and this is a much better method of pest control,\u201d Wendy said.<\/p>\n<div class='tie-fluid-width-video-wrapper tie-ignore-fitvid' style='margin-bottom: 30px;'>\n\t\t\t<iframe style='width: 100%; min-height: 300px; aspect-ratio: 16\/9;' src='https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/Xh4u_ITpmS4' loading='lazy'><\/iframe>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<p>Delina, who studied nature conservation before joining the organisation, visited the GCN after the owl box was hung at the SPCA to tell us a little more about the Owlproject.org and what they do.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe aim of Owlproject.org is to create owl-friendly children and communities within an owl-friendly environment,\u201d said Delina.<\/p>\n<p>She further explained that though owls do eat other things a large part of their diets is made up of rodents.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn many areas we have rodent problems because of rubbish and such.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHowever, community members do not want owls in the area because of the stigma surrounding them.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe want to dispel the myths and urban legends that surround owls so that communities will welcome these amazing birds into their towns, informal settlements and suburbs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe do this by visiting communities and giving presentations on owls and their role in our ecosystem.\u201d<\/p>\n<h4>ALSO READ:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/207607\/aimee-set-to-shine-on-international-catwalk-in-skeleton-key-couture-designs\/\" target=\"_blank\">Aimee set to shine on international catwalk in Skeleton Key Couture designs<\/a><\/h4>\n<p>Owlproject.org also assists in the rescue, rehabilitation and release of owls.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe work closely with wildlife vets to ensure the best care and treatment for the owls,\u201d said Delina.<\/p>\n<p>Residents, local companies and schools are encouraged to let Delina know if owls are sighted in their areas so that owl boxes can be installed, to encourage the owls to stay.<\/p>\n<p>For more information on Owlproject.org send an email to <a href=\"mailto:info@owlproject.org\">info@owlproject.org<\/a> or <a href=\"mailto:delina@owlproject.org\">delina@owlproject.org<\/a> or call Delina on 076 360 9072 or 011 791 7326<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hear More:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"7019067093 - Leigh Germiston Owl Project Dot Org by Germiston City News\" width=\"500\" height=\"400\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"no\" allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?visual=true&#038;url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F641320725&#038;show_artwork=true&#038;maxheight=750&#038;maxwidth=500\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-admin\/germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za\">germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"mailto:leighh@caxton.co.za\">leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0<a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"mailto:kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/germistoncitynews\/\">Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GCNnews\">Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/germistoncitynews\/\">Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCblgxW6BRXTLGLQvpcumLqA\">YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Or add the GCN on<span class=\"apple-converted-space\"><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/span><strong>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong><span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0<strong>BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong><span class=\"apple-converted-space\"><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"http:\/\/bedfordviewedenvalenews.co.za\/\">Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"http:\/\/albertonrecord.co.za\/\">Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"http:\/\/kemptonexpress.co.za\/\">Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"stream-item stream-item-below-post-content\">\n<div class='tenancy_slot tenancy_slot_1 jannah_ad' style='display: none;' data-query-id='25ce83aa30d3fb8ca116a20c7ec673d9'><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Owlproject.org promotes an age old form of pest control.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1848,"featured_media":208438,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"hasGravity":false,"cxt_article_byline":"Leigh Hodgson","cxt_disable_google_ads":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,2],"tags":[8297,1012,1003,1106,979,969,2730,2362],"class_list":["post-208437","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news","category-news-headlines","tag-community-2","tag-east-rand","tag-ekurhuleni","tag-gcn","tag-germiston","tag-germiston-city-news","tag-leigh-hodgson","tag-south-africa"],"amp_enabled":true,"category_labels":{"Category":"News","SubCategory":"Local news"},"tag_labels":["community","East Rand","Ekurhuleni","GCN","germiston","germiston city news","Leigh Hodgson","South 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