OWLS OF THE AFRICAN NIGHT With their haunting calls and silent flight, owls are among the most elusive and misunderstood of all birds. Legends and fables from across the world describe the owl as a supernatural being, often associated with death, while in other cultures, the owl is revered as being “wise”. Perhaps their forward-facing eyes - just like those of a human - are partly responsible for the attention they have received from people through the ages. Africa supports a large number of owl species - between 30 and 40, with new species of forest-dwelling Scops Owls still being described - and some of them are among the most interesting birds on the continent. All serious bird-watchers yearn to catch a glimpse of a Pel’s Fishing Owl, while the Congo Bay Owl, may be one of the world’s rarest species. The evocative frog-like call of the common Scops Owl is as characteristic of the savannah night as the whoop of a hyena.

Adapted for the Night Owls differ from other birds in having soft, frayed edges to their flight feathers which allows them to fly in silence and capture prey undetected. All have acute hearing and enormous eyes, which provide excellent vision in low light. Most owls are also extremely well-camouflaged so that they can remain undetected when roosting quietly during the day. All owls lay their eggs in cavities, on the ground or in a nest built by another bird, as it is obviously impossible for a nocturnal bird to gather nesting material of any kind. All owls lay pure white eggs and these are seldom left unattended - the incubating adult always sits tight, sometimes even to the point of allowing itself to be picked up by a human researcher. Some owls can be very aggressive, however, and a European Tawny Owl was responsible for the removal of renowned bird photographer Eric Hosking’s eye several years ago! Spotted Eagle Owls can likewise be very defensive over their young and will not hesitate to dive-bomb and strike an unwary bird-watcher. In this short feature, we take a look at just four of the species that make the African night so wondrous . . . The Cosmopolitan Barn Owl The Barn Owl is one of the most widespread birds in the world, with populations on all continents and on many remote oceanic islands. It is able to breed prolificly in years when its rodent prey is abundant (often following above average rainfall) with a record clutch of 19 eggs having been recorded; these owls frequently occupy the nest of the Hamerkop, much to the annoyance and agitation of the hard-working builders! (two such nests are under observation by CCAfrica guides at Ngala Game Lodge in South Africa and Matetsi Water Lodge in Zimbabwe). The eerie screech of this ghostly-white owl is certainly a sound to send a shiver down the spine of the uninitiated, but it is a harmless - and in fact very useful – bird, as far as people are concerned, for it helps to control the numbers of rats and mice. African "Big Five" lion leopard cape buffalo rhinoceros elephant