Against their will, Grace and Thomas Khumalo’s braai area turned into an Airbnb for owls in what has become a hilarious series of events that has seen the same owl family come back to the braai time and time again.

Gauteng, South Africa (29 May 2025) — The first time the Khumalo’s realised they were unknowingly running an Airbnb for Owls, it was a bit of a drama and an event; Thomas and Grace Khumalo thought it would be a one-time thing.

In May last year, it was revealed that the Khumalo’s built-in braai had been chosen by a breeding pair of Barn Owls as the perfect accommodation to raise their fledglings. None-the-wiser, the human couple were caught completely off guard when they discovered the feathered family (it’s not every day three owls choose your braai to nest, after all).

Enter wildlife rescuer and accidental owl concierge Shawn Hefer.

As the South African Wildlife Rehabilitation Center recall, Shawn arrived to help both families and “with the air of someone who’s opened one too many owl filled ovens, Shawn calmly approached the braai door. The moment he opened it, one of the three owls launched itself into the room in a flurry of wings and indignation.”

Shawn caught the owl carefully while a shocked Grace watched the scene unfold.

Eventually, the owls were taken to their new (and far more fitting accommodation) at the Owl Rescue Centre.

However, this was not the last the Khumalo’s would see of their owl guests. Fast forward to this year, and guess who came back for another stay in the braai?

“The same feathered squatters, clearly feeling nostalgic (or just opportunistic), returned for round two after discovering the chimney was still blissfully unmeshed. (Hey.. If it ain’t blocked, why stop the flock)?” The South African Wildlife Rehabilitation Center shared.

This time, a teen owl (a young fledgling) had made himself at home, and Shawn once again got the Khumalo’s call.

This rescue was an easier effort as Shawn set the fledging on the ground and watched him fly off into the sunset.

But, he’d clearly given the braai a five-star review, as just a few weeks later, another female fledging popped by!

“When the third owl-related WhatsApp lit up on Shawn Hefer’s phone, he didn’t even blink. He just burst out laughing. Of course it was Grace and Thomas. Of course it was another Barn owl in their braai. (At this stage, we’re considering a loyalty card)!” The South African Wildlife Rehabilitation Center commented.

Hot on the case again, the owl was carefully moved from her accommodation and into the rehabilitation centre’s clinic to join other fledglings.

The urgency to mesh the area had never been more clear to the Khumalo’s.

As the SA Wildlife Rehabilitation Center share in reference to meshing the chimney,

“Thomas, with a weary smile and the haunted look of a man who’s learned the hard way that owls will be back, promised to sort it out.”

Sources: South African Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

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It’ll soon be the most flirtatious time of the year for owls; which means there will be many more birds out on the prowl seeking dates and mates. Here’s why you’ll want to keep an eye out for the owls this winter.

South Africa (14 May 2025) — Spring might be for new life, but winter is when many animals get cozy enough to make the magic happen. In the owl world, ‘Netflix and chill’ season approaches, and in the human world, we might just find ourselves in the midst of a few owls out on the prowl looking for mates. Keep an eye out, because you might just meet an owl in trouble (and not because their date went south).

Recently, the fantastic team of animal heroes at FreeMe Wildlife shared word of an owl that had been grounded in Rosetta.

Thanks to the kind-hearted Tiffany, the owl (said to have been in a dire state due to mites and a lack of nutrition) is now in the care of the FreeMe Wildlife team and on the road to recovery.

“As our local owl species get ready for their winter breeding seasons, there is a lot more activity going on. Young owls are looking for mates, established pairs are calling to renew bonds and announce territories, females are settling on eggs and males are out hunting for two,” the team explain.

As such, it would serve all animal lovers well to keep our heads turned for owls who might be grounded, stuck in sticky situations after an ambitious hunt or ones who have chosen to nest in human-made spaces (owls breed and nest in enclosed spaces, which could mean a hole in your garden’s tree in better cases, or a mine shaft in not-so-great cases.

Encounter an Owl in Trouble? Here’s What to Do

Firstly, assess the situation; you’ll want to observe the bird before acting hastily. If the owl does not fly away after a short while after say, hunting, there could be a problem.

If you can get close and see that the owl appears injured or sick, you’ll want to contact:

• FreeMeWildlife (033 330 3036),
• The Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital (071 248 1514),
• The Owl Rescue Centre (082 719 5463)
• or other wildlife-focused organisations near you to help.

Even if you can’t see any immediate injuries, but notice that the bird is not flying away, rather chat to the teams to be safe.

Sources: Various (Linked Above)

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Keep an Eye Out for Owl Pals as the Weather Gets Colder appeared first on Good Things Guy.