Welcome To My World
– The Batty Eagle Man
Clarens Wildlife Interest Group
The objective is to create a group for everyone who is interested in our local wildlife. We (Bo and Les) plan to include all things wild on several outings. Introduction Bo van der Lecq – I have approximately 32 years’ experience in birds of prey conservation and...
Owl & Poisons Awareness Campaign
Introduction: Since the establishment of Raptor Conservation Projects in January 2000, numerous projects have been established that includes the monitoring and conservation of large birds of prey species within our urban, rural and agricultural environment. A...
Attracting owls to your garden
Which Owls will use my box? Your owl box was designed to attract either a Spotted Eagle‐Owl (Bubo africanus) or a Barn Owl (Tyto alba). The Barn Owl prefers a closed box with just a small opening for entry, while the Spotted Eagle-Owl prefers a more open box, from...
Guardians of the urban raptor
Documenting the process Complete with safety gear and loaned hard hats, Phillip Lennon, producer of Coral Tree Films and I were hoisted in the basket by the Sarens South Africa crane to the newly erected artificial nesting platform to snip the cable ties that had held...
History KRS and SNR
History Klipriviersberg Ridge System (KRS) For many years and dating back to the late 1950’s, sightings of predominantly individual and occasionally a pair of Verreaux’s eagles have been reported to skirt the ridges and sporadically hunt on the bountiful Rock hyrax...
Background of the Aquila verreauxii
This is a very large eagle. The adult is pitch black with a white ‘V’ on its back and white on the rump. The female has solid white on the back and rump, while the male has the white of its back and rump separated by black feathering. The bill is black, the cere and...
On Meyer’s Farm
I just got into my vehicle and drove from Centurion to Meyers Farm to ask Hans a huge favour!During 2003 whilst working on our Hyrax Operation Project – capturing hyrax and reintroducing them into suitable habitat within the greater home range of the Roodekrans eagles...
Bat Research in the Eastern Free State
Bats are one of the largest groups of mammals in world and differ from other mammals with their ability of powered flight. It is for this reason that they are widely distributed across all continents in the world with the exception of Antarctica. South Africa alone...
The public appreciation for bats is growing
Until six years ago, bat conservation efforts in South Africa were the province of just a few dedicated scientists. In 1994 I reluctantly branched out from my usual role as a rodent systematist and agreed to assist with a television documentary on South African bats....
Owls at Risk
by Anthony StidolphThe danger of using rat poison was brought home forcefully to a local Richmond egg farmer recently when he discovered one of his resident Barn Owls dead. According to Graham Willson of Woodlands farm, he had been obliged to set the baited rat traps...
Why are raptors special?
Written ByDateCategoryRaptors are characterized by dramatically curved beaks and claws, powerful wings and superb eyesight, adaptations that contribute to their specialized ecological role as meat-eaters, at the top of the food pyramid. Because of these attributes,...
Verreaux’s eagles’ breeding
Egg Laying Usually, in the “wild” eggs are laid from late April to June with a peak in May and only occasionally in July. In an urban environment, eggs are usually laid at least a month sooner, by about end March to early April. It is not known why urban eagles lay...
Verreaux’s eagles’ nest sites
Generally nest sites are in inaccessible habitat, has ensured that this eagle, though often persecuted by farmers, has most recently shown a steady decline in areas where previously pairs were observed to be frequent visitors. Throughout its range it occurs in rocky...
Verreaux’s eagles’ hunting territories
Home Range Generally, Verreaux’s eagles’ hunting territories vary in size that is largely dependable on prey availability, quality and density and an average range may be about 15-25km². However, in an urban environment this can change drastically as for instance at...
Breeding Successes Summarised
The events described below summarize the breeding efforts prior to- and post ANP being erected to date: 2007 Pylon Nest – incubation commenced during 2 - 9 June – raised a chick to fledging. 2008 Pylon Nest – incubation commenced during 1 - 7 May – raised a chick to...
Background of the Roodekrans black eagles
Believed to be at least third and fourth generation eagles since they were first observed to breed in the gorge adjacent the Witpoortjie waterfall during the 1930’s the present female and male is estimated to be approx. 25 and 15 years old respectively. The young...
A Heap of bat houses delivered
Twenty-four Bat Houses for University of the Free State Qwa Qwa Campus ready to be deployed en masse to various participating fruit farms and schools within our Eastern Free State district.Four 4 Chamber Bat Houses, a Spotted Eagle Owl- and Barn Owl Nest Boxes ready...
Spotted Eagle Nesting Box installed
A difficult 3-hour Spotted Eagle Owl nest box installation at Rhino Retreat in Clarens. Thanks to Thys whom I had to guide and educate on how to install the box, it is now sitting pretty between two Lombardy Poplar trees.
Anti venom for snakebite
Antivenom for snakebite in South Africa is produced by the South African Vaccine Producers (SAVP), part of out National Health Laboratories which is a government institution. They are situated in Edenvale, Johannesburg and not Onderstepoort, as people often think. For...
Rescues
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Rescue Actions
Save a snake!This project evolved from an owl rescue project to incorporate additional species such as small to medium wildlife such as porcupine, jackal, caracal, civet, genet and polecat that have become injured in vehicle collisions. Owls are most frequently...
Clarens Raptor Observation
In August 2018 I got married to my lovely wife Les and in 2020 we decided to pack up and move out of Johannesburg’s hustle and bustle, heading towards the Eastern Free State residing in the lovely little ‘dorpie’ known as Clarens that nestles at the foothills of the...
Little Falls Wildlife Reserve
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Beware of poison
Surveys indicate that many poisonings are deliberate, either for human consumption or because birds are perceived to be pests that damage crops and kill livestock. Countless cranes, vultures, raptors and garden birds are however poisoned without ever being eaten, and...
