Kirstenbosch, Cape Town’s botanical garden, is a lively place, well patronized by locals as well as visitors. It’s really busy in spring when the flowers put on a spectacular show. There’s a host of activities during this season, not least that of the feathered variety. The sunbirds and sugarbirds dart among the protea pincushions, sipping sweet nectar; thrush, Cape robins, prinia flit in the lower branches catching insects on the wing. Right in the heart of the garden at a busy intersection of pathways sits a Bubo africanus – a Spotted Eagle owl on her nest. In the branches above the male bird casts his beady eye.
- The nest is located at the base of the tree behind the large rock, and the female is just visible.
- Bones and fur, the remains of a meal, lay regurgitated below the male’s perch.
- These are the commonest of the large owls, growing to just under 50 cm.
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You are so lucky, I adore owls but our only native one in NZ is very small and very reclusive so hard to get shots of in the wild without tramping for days in bush etc.
Thats quite a big bird and nesting at the base of a tree, no predators then. Beautiful, I love owls.
It’s an interesting choice of nesting sites, and this pair return to the same site and raise their chicks amongst the coming and goings of the public visiting this botanical garden. Caracal, snakes and other raptors would be potential predators, but with the human activity they shy away.
Amazing shots! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks 🙂