In
a manner of speaking, well-known bird expert Geoff Lockwood is "part of
the furniture" at Delta Environmental Centre (DEC). Living on the Centre's
premises in Delta Park, Johannesburg, for the last 17 years, he has been
involved in the development of Delta Centre since its inception in 1981.
He focusses mainly on environmental education programmes. Geoff has a soft
spot for children and enjoys working with them - awakening their interest
in the value of the natural environment and the wise use of sustainable
resources. He is also involved in staff training, including aspects such
as bird elements in the Park in his courses.
In an effort to bring the environment to the disabled, he has embarked on a special programme where he acts as facilitator to help these people interpret their environment. Recordings of bird-song as well as stuffed specimens of birds found in the Park, form part of this programme which complements the Sasol Sensory Trail for the disabled at DEC.
Geoff is Delta's consultant on environmental topics to businesses and industries and advises on/contributes to environmental impact assessment studies.
Geoff has been running bird programmes in the Park even before Delta Centre was established. He is very involved in leading bird-watching tours to various parts of southern Africa, Malawi and Israel, and is a popular lecturer on all topics relating to the natural environment at a wide variety of centres around the country. He is a favourite lecturer and course leader with organisations such as BirdLife South Africa and Sappi Brett. Many viewers will recognise Geoff on TV, as he is the presenter of Bird Quizz on the popular Veld Focus environmental programme.
With a very busy schedule, he also makes time to look after the few creatures kept at Delta for educational purposes, such as fish, snakes and terrapins.
The early years
Geoff was born, raised and educated in Johannesburg. An early interest in all things natural became progressively more focussed towards birds - these being the most accessible and visually interesting form of wildlife to a young city kid. In 1971, he met bird artist Simon Calburn and began exploring bird painting as a way of expressing the pleasure birds gave him.
In 1973, whilst studying for a BSc degree in Zoology/Geology at the University of the Witwatersrand, he decided to go full-time into bird painting. Various solo and group exhibitions followed in Johannesburg, Seychelles, Plettenberg Bay and Pretoria. In 1981, he wrote, illustrated and published the popular book, Garden Birds of Southern Africa. Three years later he undertook the mammoth task of contributing half the illustrations for Robert's Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition, and in 1992 he completed 10 revision and new plates for the sixth edition of this work, published early in 1993.
Owls
Geoff's favourite birds are owls, and a highlight of the past 14 years has been the pair of spotted eagle owls which has bred each year in a box which he erected for them on the roof of Delta Environmental Centre. This drastically improved the breeding success of the owls.
In order to counter the negative sentiments towards owls due to fear, ignorance or misunderstanding, DECentre has offered successful environmental education programmes on owls for many years (read more about owls and superstition).
It might seem strange to accept the fact that in this suburban environment, spotted eagle owls breed annually in a nesting box (August/September) and are frequently seen at dusk, throughout the year, hunting for prey (mainly small birds, rats and mice). They have also been known to mock-attack small dogs being taken on early evening walks in the Park!
Owls in the classroom...
At DEC, it is a firm belief that the park should be used as an "outdoor classroom" as frequently as possible and the owl programmes have proved to be extremely successful in the line-up of environmental education topics on offer.
Over the years many school children, teachers, students and adults have had the pleasure of learning more about these beautiful birds and their role in the environment. This is achieved by incorporating the owls into Delta's normal programmes. Holiday programmes are run and members of the local community and friends are sometimes invited to bring a picnic supper and join Delta's knowledgeable staff to spend an evening in the park watching the antics of the owl chicks and adults during feeding time.
The following steps explain how owls could be used within a school's environmental education programme for an integrated perspective.
A. Core learning area:
Physical & natural sciences.
B. Environmental context:
The biosphere is experiencing pollution and ecosystem and species destruction is occurring at such a rate and on such a scale that the very biotic processes of organic regeneration are under threat.
C. Environmental education focus:
To provide learners with concepts, values, skills and commitment associated with the capacity to engage with and address environmental issues towards sustainable living (in this case, man's impact on owls and their role in an ecosystem).
D. Essential outcomes:
Two might be appropriate - collecting, analysing, organising and initially evaluating information; and reflecting and using a variety of strategies to learn more effectively.
E. Teaching strategy:
Introduction:
- Visit bird park/zoo/museum/EE centre.
- Live example of an owl, if possible (discuss adaptation, appearance, behaviour).
- Invite person involved in rehabilitation of owls to visit school.
- Invite member of a local bird club to assist with identifying a venue where owls might be observed and to accompany class to that venue. Body of course:
- Slide show/talk on 12 species of South African owls (question and answer session). Use bird call tapes and video material or CD-ROM material where appropriate.
- Walk to view owls/nest box/site/look for pellets, if accessible.
- Analysis of pellets (self-study/research)
- Conservation status/role in ecosystem - an action debate.
- Creative work (languages, arts and crafts, story-telling, etc).
F. Assessment
- In-depth research project per student or group with presentation.
- Pellets - collect, analyse contents, organise, display effectively, annotate.
- Construct and install nest box in school groups.
- Study and record birds' behaviour (long-term project e.g. for Science Expo).
Get your own owl booklet
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PO Box 394
Howick
3290
For more information, contact Di Beeton
Tel: (011) 888-4831
Fax: (011) 888-4106
* Note: Unfortunately, for the last five years, some Egyptian geese have taken over the nesting box of the spotted eagle owls. We will let you know as soon as the owls have kicked out these cheeky competitors!