OWL AMBASSADORS TO DATE:

          The Owl Naming Programme has Begun!     

 The Owl Naming Programme, launched 5 years ago, aims at providing generic names to the 12 individual owl species in each of the 9 African languages found throughout South Africa. Many children are brought up to think that all owl species have the same name. "Isikhova" in Zulu is used to describe a Giant eagle owl (Bubo lacteus) as well as a pearl spotted owlet (Glaucidium perlatum). It is hard to appreciate owls if we cannot name them specifically. This programme is a learner-led initiative and involves schools from across South Africa. 

Knysna Timber Festival 2017

Owlproject.org attended the Knysna Timber Festival from the 29th October to 01st November 2017. The artwork made by primary school children from four different Alexandra Township Schools was displayed at the festival. Everyone who attended the festival really liked the awesome artwork. The artwork was made by children from Zenzeleni Primary School, Carter Primary School, Iphutheng Primary School and Marlboro Gardens Combined School. 

African Bird Fair 2017

Owlproject.org attended the BirdLife South Africa's African BirdFair on the weekend of 9th and 10th September 2017 at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens. The artwork from four Alexandra Township School was displayed at the Fair. Some of the children who made the art were also present to "Give a Hoot" about the role of owls in their community in controlling rodent populations. 

 TOP Owl Painting Project

Owlproject.org carried out the owl painting project with four Alexandra Township Primary Schools in September 2017. The schools that participated are Zenzeleni Primary School, Iphutheng Primary School, Carter Primary School and Marlboro Gardens Combined School. Due to financial constraints we only managed to make 500 owl cut-outs and we unfortunately could not cover every child. As you can see by the pictures below, everyone involved was extremely excited to be part of the project.   

Township Owl Project Questionnaire

For the past two weeks the owl project team visited Alexandra township schools in Gauteng, South Africa. A questionnaire about owls was carried out with the learners. Each learner was given an additional questionnaire to take home to be completed by their parents. The survey was carried out at eight different schools. Four of these are schools that are part of the township owl project’s owl release programme and four which are not. This data will be presented at the World Owl Conference in Portugal in September.  

A wonderful turn-out this weekend at the Birdlife SA Fair at the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens. The Alexandra kids' artwork was a real hit, as were their T-shirts. The owl pellet dissection table was a hoot with kids and parents alike searching for an elusive bird skull.Thank you to Birdlife South Africa, EcoSolutions Urban Ecology, The House of Woodoc and all the visitors who liked our stand. See you all next year.