The park in the La Francia neighborhood has two striking visitors these days. Is about a pair of spectacled owls (Pulsatrix perspicillata) and a chick.
Pennsylvanian Felipe Cardona Toro, member of the Caldense Society of Ornithology (SCO)is currently in Manizales and was the one who registered the owls.
He went for a walk yesterday with his wife between the neighborhoods Los Alcázares and La Francia, near the parish. “I took my binoculars to watch birds, after so many days of confinement due to a surgery I had a month ago. When we arrived at the little park, I began to notice a lot of activity in the trees, and I observed that they put food for the doves (Zenaida auriculata), and I think; With so much pigeon dove around here, there are owls,” she commented.
He toured the park and recorded the bird species. “Suddenly I sat down to rest with my wife on one of the concrete counters there. We were having a snack, when she decided to look at the top of one of the trees next to where we were, and I observed a white speck with a black mask”.
He added: “I told my wife. Love, a spectacled owl chick. I immediately took out my binocular lenses and observed that white lump. And clearly, it was that species; a chick with its white feathers. My wife also saw it. Then with my cell phone I took some photos and videos and uploaded them to the group of Whatsapp from Aves Caldas and the SCO group. Since I know that an owl chick is not alone, I started looking for the parents. Indeed they were in a continuous tree, about 10 meters away. Male and female of Pulsatrix perspicillata. Some people who were in the park, seeing our interest in the trees, came closer and watched the birds. “Everything happened around 5:30 pm,” she said.
The amateur bird photographer Santiago Hoyos Mejía He saw Felipe’s report through the Aves Caldas WhatsApp group and was encouraged to go see them.
He went to the park this Friday at noon and was able to see an adult, for about four minutes, and the juvenile that remains perched there. “If he is in the tree all the time, he moves through the branches, It’s obvious that he still doesn’t know how to fly.”, he noted.
Photo | Courtesy Santiago Hoyos Mejía | HOMELAND
The juvenile spectacled owl in the La Francia neighborhood of Manizales.
Is it common to see spectacled owls in urban areas?
Valentina Marín Giraldo, biologist at the University of Caldas, explained that this species of owls are common in peri-urban areas. He added that in the Los Alcázares Ecopark, neighboring the La Francia neighborhood, this has been recorded for several years. nocturnal bird of prey, and there have been studies of their diet.
He stated that it could be that The Alcázares family is moving to that peri-urban area, but there are no indications that allow us to ensure it; because they may be juveniles of that couple.
More about owls
Marín Giraldo gave more information about owls and this species Pulsatrix perspicillata.
- The group of Strigiformes It is divided into two families: Tytonidae where are the owls and Strigidae where the owls are found.
- They are both predators. These birds allow biological control of pests. An individual can consume 1,000 rodents per year.
- They are found in open areas such as pastures, urban parks with trees, wetlands; and other species are associated with conserved forests.
- In colombia there are about 28 species of owls. Most are nocturnal, although some are active during the day.
- Owls are threatened by habitat loss, the use of pesticides, impacts on electrical wiring and persecutions due to superstitions, myths or beliefs. “It is important that people know the work of the spectacled owl as a natural pest controller and maintenance of urban and peri-urban ecosystems,” said the biologist.
Other owl sightings
In the township of Pueblo Nuevo (Pennsylvania), a pair of spectacled owls was sighted in two samanes in the park between 2020 and 2022. On two occasions they were seen with their offspring.
October 4, 2022 a long-eared owl was observed (Asio stygius) between the branches of the trees in Caldas Park. Passersby came curiously to admire the bird, as well as birdwatchers who photographed it. However, some people threw rocks at him, so Corpocaldas captured him and released him in a forest near the city.
That is why the invitation to the community is to observe the owl with respect, without disturbing it and take care of its habitat.
Remember that if you have a wildlife report you can call the emergency hotline. Corpocaldas: 3102883462.
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