Cape Town - If you want to check out the chicks, see a bit of fluff, eye the birds, make sure you head for De Waal Park in Oranjezicht as soon as possible.
And no, that’s not being gender insensitive and non-PC – there really are some fluffy chicks hanging out in the park: a pair of Spotted Eagle Owl chicks that are in the process of fledging.
Park staff are making sure the two special youngsters are being kept safe from the many dogs that exercise in this popular park by erecting a barrier around them until they’ve learnt to fly properly.
Park attendant Phillip Stoltz said the young owls had been “spotted” in their nest about two-and-a-half weeks ago, and staff had kept an eye on them. “Then on Monday a lady who normally walks her dogs here saw them stretching their wings.”
That night, one of the chicks had fallen out of the nest and yesterday moved to a spot on the ground about 150m away.
“We made a cage around it and kept watch all day, and the mother came down to it with a rat.”
On Wednesday, the second chick also abandoned the nest.
“So we’ve put this netting around them to keep them safe and happy, and the mother is also keeping watch.”
Dog-walkers were being considerate, and the youngsters were attracting huge attention from other park users, Stoltz said.
“People have been taking photos of these owls big-time.
“It’s something special, hey?” - Cape Argus