Sooty Owl

Hi Andy,
Thank you. Owls are my passion, other than diurnal BOPs. Send me an e-mail to

because I want to forward you something.

cheers :)

Thanks Owen, George. George, remind me, are you in Melbourne or Brisbane? From memory, Melbourne right? :)

I haven't gone to Bris yet and tried to catch up on sleep in Melbourne, so either way the answer's no.

A?e (is that the correct spelling?)
There are two families of owls in Australia, the Ninox (hawk –owls) and Tyto (barn owls). Ninox owls nest at regular times every year, though a pair may miss one season or two, depending on their circumstances. Powerful Owls (Ninox strenua) are right now about to lay eggs. So it’s unlikely you will find them. They tend to be very secretive in their daily duties, with the male roosting usually close to the nest tree, while the female is sitting on eggs (late May-early June is laying time, or so). Young should hatch around July and fledge mid-September then hang around with the parents for possibly six or more months. Southern Boobooks (N. boobook) usually nest later, more into the spring than at the start of winter as far as I know. Barking Owls (N. connivens) I think do as the boobook. Rufous Owls I don’t know, because we don’t get them in Sydney, but should be similar, regular routine. Most of my observations have thus far been of Powerful Owls and some Southern Boobooks, but not Barking Owl yet. Whereas the Tytonid owls nest whenever conditions are favourable, and may nest over and over again until the food source depletes- Eg. Mouse plague which tends to send the Eastern Barn Owl populations into a breeding and feeding frenzy. There can be many factors etc that contribute to the availability of food. All species of owls have their specific food preferences. I have heard/seen Sooty Owls nesting and Powerful Owls getting ready to nest within earshot of each other. They favour similar forest types but can coexist due to their hunting preferences and happily stay out of each others’ ways. I am sure the Southern Boobook could be around as well, as I have heard them there, yet they are prone to taking insects, small birds and bats even, whereas the large forest owls catch animals like possums, gliders, rabbits and birds as large as Brush Turkey, yes! Owls are just amazing animals and they have so many incredible traits that one could spend a lifetime observing them and barely scratch the surface. Eg. Tytonid owls can hunt in total darkness, studies in Europe concluded this with the Barn Owl there. Their hearing is absolutely incredible. Ninox owls tend to be more crepuscular hunters (dusk/dawn) as they still rely on vision to a degree. However, don’t think their hearing is poor! Most often when you see a Ninox owl roosting during the day holding prey, they would have generally captured that at dawn and will wait until dusk to consume. Also, Ninox will most often roost out on tree limbs, whereas the Tytos prefer hollows. Though that does not mean they will not roost in the open, it’s just they love tree hollows.

In all honesty Kim/Adrienne and other girls. It’s far safer in a forest at night than walking down the main street in town! I know what you mean though. I spend many hours alone, sometimes in company, and sometimes I get a bit edgy (alone), though the more you learn the creatures’ calls the less they’ll make you edgy. But the edge still remains to a degree I think. It’s just natural. I have never (touch wood, therefore tapped my forehead) had any worries. Now crocs, that’s a scary thought. Brrrrrrr…..

I typed Ace with the upside down ? above the c but when I copied it into the forum message box I didn't realize it changed the ? to a question mark. So if that's the case do you pronounce it as Ah-tsche?

I could definitely just look at owls for the rest of my life, as well as diurnal birds of prey. very fascinating birds, the lot of them. :)

What's a dropbear? I must live a very sheltered life!