Bird lovers' journal: Owl family in urban park surprises birdwatchers

Download

The sighting of an owl on the grass at a park in downtown Shenzhen, a seaside city in southern China, caused a frenzy of bird watchers last week.

The bird was standing on the ground, seemingly lost. But it managed to pull itself together and fly to a tree.

A fledgling Asian barred owlet. /Peng Dan

The bird was later identified as a fledgling Asian barred owlet, which has yet to fully master the art of flying and somehow ended on the grass.

Yet that wasn't the only surprising discovery. As it turned out, the bird wasn't alone. It was part of a family of four living in the park.

It was a sight to behold. Not only is it rare to see any owl in action during the day in downtown Shenzhen but to spot four? All related? For many at the scene, it felt like winning the lottery.

CGTN's Shenzhen-based contributor Fang Qiaoran was on the ground, having been the first to photograph all four members of the owl family.

"It's the first time that we have found an Asian barred owlet couple raising their chicks in downtown Shenzhen," Fang said, visibly excited.

A fledgling Asian barred owlet. /Fang Qiaoran

Two fledgling Asian barred owlets. /Fang Qiaoran

A fledgling Asian barred owlet. /Fang Qiaoran

Fang said the trick to distinguish the young owls from their adult parents was to look at their claws. The mature birds usually have rough skin with fur, while those of the young ones are usually yellow and appear soft. She added that the owl species, unlike other nocturnal birds, is also active during the day, with many having been spotted foraging during daytime in Shenzhen.

An Asian barred owlet (adult, male). /Fang Qiaoran

An Asian barred owlet (adult, female). /Fang Qiaoran

In order to protect the birds, the park cordoned off the area where the young owl was spotted. Many bird experts also advised the public to keep a safe distance and avoid making large noises to prevent disturbing the birds.

The young birds are in the process of learning to fly and might take off once they are fully prepared. But bird lovers like Fang hope that the parents choose the park as their long-term home instead of a temporary shelter.