Monday 22 December 2014

FROM THE WILD: OWLETS, TORTOISES AND NEW SIGHTING ON QUIRK ALLEY

Owlets Again


Our owl hosting oak has once again sheltered two delectable owlets, with exquisite Mom and Dad ever present. It’s now reached that tricky stage when the two youngsters can fly down but not yet up – so we hold thumbs, mumble prayers and leave them be on the ground until nightfall when we pop them back in their tree.  Osama ben Kitty and Suzie Creamcheese are the main worry.   What fierce piercing little eyes the owlets have and what marvellous clicking and hissing sounds they make.

Clockwise from top left: 1) First glimpse of the owlets. 2) At risk on the ground. 3) Fierce eyes. 4) Clicking and hissing as it is carried back to the tree.

Clockwise from top left: 1) Dad keeping (half an) eye. 2) Mom watching closely. 3) Safely back in the tree. 4) Putting the second one in the nest.


Tortoise Release

Elizabeth Cridland of Rondebosch has for decades been the 'go to' person with regard to stray tortoises, but they have got to be just too many for her small property. So, having before released her tortoises into a Reserve, she asked if she could release between 10 and 20 Rooipens and Leopard (Mountain) tortoises here. Both species have been seen on Dragonridge.

The release began with two 20 year old Leopards who were let go near the stream behind Fynbos House. The first fellow, called Mr Stripes, quickly disappeared into the underbrush, hopefully to make a happy life in the wild. However the other, Mr Speckles, a few hours later hotfooted it back to the farmhouse. We tried again - this time releasing him higher and further from the road. But no go – after two days he toddled into the werf.  He wouldn’t eat and was clearly traumatized so we sent him home to Rondebosch where he recovered and ate solidly for days.

Clockwise from top left: 1) Liz, husband and friend. 2) Being carried up the mountain. 3) Peeking at the new surroundings.

With the release on hold, we talked to Arnelle Collison and Atherton de Villiers of Cape Nature. Releasing tortoises, they both said, is very problematic. Not only do some not adapt to the wild, but they bring in foreign genes and possibly parasites and viruses.   This is particularly so with Rooipens which will breed with existing tortoises. Mountain tortoises, despite being on the Paardeberg probably through releases, are not actually indigenous further south than Montague.  On the plus side they don’t breed with other species so are safe from the genetic point of view. The experts are going to talk more and come back to us.
We will keep you posted.




This creature, newly sighted on Quirk Alley, is unlikely to contaminate the gene pool, although may perhaps spread Cycle Virus which has reached pandemic proportions worldwide.


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