Latest news with #BrownWoodOwl
Time Out
27-05-2025
- General
- Time Out
Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden closes off access to its rare baby owl
Hong Kong's Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden has recently had a happy addition to the nature conservation centre's family. They announced via Instagram on May 24 that after four years, the Brown Wood Owl has bred again within the nature reserve. This is a type of medium-sized owl found in south Asia, with a facial disc edged in white. They are more commonly found in India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Taiwan, and are fairly rare in Hong Kong. It is a proud nod to the conservation efforts of Kadoorie Farm that these owls have chosen their site to nest. However, ever since the announcement, crowds of birdwatchers have flocked to the premises to catch this wild baby owl in action. In a now-deleted Facebook post, Kadoorie Farm posted a series of photos of the owls staring down from the trees, along with a large group of photographers armed with huge cameras and lens kits. In order to maintain a peaceful habitat and to reduce stress for the birds and their young, the nature reserve has decided to temporarily cut off access to the road that leads to the owls' nesting site. 'The owls attracted much interest among visitors and photographers, some of which could potentially disturb them [...] We also appreciate that some enthusiastic photographers must have been disappointed, but as a nature conservation institute, the well-being and protection of the animals and plants in our nature reserve has priority,' Kadoorie Farms stated on social media. On the Facebook post which is now no longer available, they also stated that staff have had to be on the lookout for visitors who might be using laser pointers or playing owl sounds in order to get nice photos. It's really best to leave the owl family to raise their new baby in peace. However, if this particular species is your bird of choice, the conservation centre reminds fans that they do house a captive Brown Wood Owl within their raptor sanctuary. Aptly named Woody, she was seized from an illegal animal trader by the police several years ago and has since lived in Kadoorie Farms since she is used to captivity and cannot be released into the wild.
HKFP
26-05-2025
- General
- HKFP
Hong Kong nature reserve closes off section as birdwatchers flock to see rare baby owl
Hong Kong's Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) has closed off part of its nature reserve after news about a rare baby wild owl attracted a crowd of birdwatchers to the sanctuary. 'Yesterday the 24th May, we posted that after a period of four years, the rare Brown Wood Owl has bred again within KFBG's nature reserve,' it said on Facebook on Sunday. 'The owls attracted much interest among visitors and photographers, which could potentially disturb them. We decided to temporarily close the road that provided access to the birds, a measure we communicated via social media.' In a now-deleted post on Saturday, the KFBG also shared a photo collage of three owls and a picture of a large group of birdwatchers pointing their long-lens cameras at a hillside. 'We also appreciate that some enthusiastic photographers must have been disappointed, but as a nature conservation institute, the well-being and protection of the animals and plants in our nature reserve has priority,' it said on Sunday. 'To ensure the continued protection of the owl family, the road closure will remain in effect until further notice, and we continue to appreciate your understanding and cooperation,' it said. Native species According to the KFBG, the brown wood owl appears to be rare in Hong Kong. Considered to be a native species, it is believed to have arrived only in the last 15 years from Guangdong province. There were eight breeding records between 2009 and 2020 in the city, including one at the KFBG in May 2015, according to the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the brown wood owl – also found in Southeast and South Asia – as a least-concern species. However, it still faces threats from shrinking forest habitats. Those who want to see a brown wood owl up close can visit a captive owl named Woody at the raptor sanctuary, the KFBG also said on Sunday. She was raised around people after being seized from an illegal animal trader when she was young several years ago and thus cannot be released into the wild. 'She may even communicate with the wild wood owl family on our hillside at night,' the conservancy said.
RTHK
25-05-2025
- General
- RTHK
Kadoorie Farm restricts access after baby owl mania
Kadoorie Farm restricts access after baby owl mania A pair of rare Brown Wood Owl have bred again after four years at the farm's nature reserve. Photo courtesy of Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden. A baby owl and his parents at Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden have attracted so many excited birdwatchers that restrictions have had to be put in place, staff say. A pair of rare Brown Wood Owl have bred again after four years at the farm's nature reserve. The arrival of their baby has prompted hordes of bird lovers to turn up to take photographs. In order to protect the owls, public access to the hillside where they are nesting has been restricted, staff said at the weekend. 'Our role is to protect the bird and manage the visitors, and check for visitors that might be using laser pointers or playing owl sounds, all to take a great picture, but at the same time causing great disturbance to the birds,' the farm said on Facebook. The farm said it understands that some photographers may be unhappy with the measure, but urged people to put the well-being of the owls first.
