From Jay Jay Coetzee

A Glimpse Into the World of Marsh Owls

Today I was given a rare gift-an intimate encounter with a breeding pair of Marsh Owls. A gentle male and female, so unafraid and curious, they welcomed me into their world with the quiet grace only nature can offer.

These owls are softer than the grass they nest in, their movements tender and inquisitive. To my amazement, they came right up to me, showing me their nest and allowing me a glimpse into their hidden lives. In their presence, I felt only gentleness-creatures of such delicate beauty, carrying the wild’s quiet wisdom in their golden eyes.

Yet, moments like this are becoming rarer. Their fragile habitats are shrinking under the pressure of relentless commercial development. The grasslands that once stretched freely are disappearing, leaving these gentle beings with fewer and fewer places to call home.

Standing there, eye to eye with the Marsh Owls, I was reminded of why conservation matters-not just for the survival of species, but for the preservation of the quiet, sacred encounters that remind us of our shared place in the natural world.