Powerful Owl (juvenile) catches and eats wattlebird

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choosypix
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Powerful Owl (juvenile) catches and eats wattlebird

The juvenile Powerful Owls are now almost indistinguishable from the adults. For the last week they seem to be eating only wattlebirds. (There is an abundance of wattlebirds in this area at present). They still trill at night and about 10 days ago the mother gave them a ringtail possum she had been holding all day so they are not yet fully independent.

Cheers,

Antonia

Rick N
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Thanks so much for providing an insight into the development of these birds.

Lovely shots, much appreciated.

Reflex
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I agree with Rick..consistant quality photography and magnificent contributions to this web site. 

Samford Valley Qld.

timrob
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Wow, what a catch!

Tim

choosypix
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Hi Rick N, Reflex and timrob. Many thanks for your comments.

It is hard to judge if people are interested in  owl photos so we try to limit them

to anything that is unusual or noteworthy. So far as we can see there is no mention

of P_owls eating wattlebirds but maybe others reading this know of other cases(?)

Since they have been back at the mangroves (Dec 17) we have photographed them

eating cockatoos, magpies, grey-headed and black flying foxes, a rat, a fish, lorikeets,

ring-tailed possums, leaves, bark, a tea-towel, a pair of shorts and recently, many wattlebirds.

As well, we have seen them hunting at mid-day. So I guess hunger is a strong motivator.

Anyway thanks again for taking the time to show your interest and we will post more should

something else a bit odd happen.Cheers,

Antonia

timrob
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Ok Antonia, well Marg and  I love photos of Owls!  We find them - and other night birds - to be very elusive and hence difficult to photograph. The Powerful Owl is one of those specialised predators that we marvel at and would love to have the opportunity to see.

Keep up the good work!

Tim

Owl of Kedumba
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Agree strongly with all above comments! Amazing photo's, it's great for you to share their journey with us. It must be truly wonderful to watch these birds grow and mature. 

Canonguy
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Antonia

As far as I know, the fish is the most significant observation regarding prey items. I suppose it is something they probably do, but has not been seen or recorded previously. That was an amazing observation indeed.

Well done for keeping and eye on these beauties. I go lazy once the chick fledges. My baby was still around in January, but it was a skittish babe and I have only heard it. Plus the terrain is pretty hard to get around in where they live.

choosypix
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Thanks for all the encouraging posts...they are appreciated.

Good to hear from you, Akos. The fish was a great surprise. Each night the two juveniles

would fly down and stare intently into the water and we thought it might be the movement

catching their attention or perhaps they wanted to bathe. So seeing one grabbing a fish was

a win. (The Australian Museum said they couldn't be certain but they thought it was most likely a

flathead).

We began by hoping to photograph the entire cycle from

the parents mating, the nesting, fledging and the parents' support until the offspring disperse.

It has been very interesting and we have learned quite a bit.

We were told that the single mum would not be able to raise two chicks on her own but she has.

(However she looks a bit ragged around the edges)

At the other site near where we met you, the young juvenile vacated  a few weeks ago and yesterday

we saw two adults close together so the new cycle should be starting there now.

How about at your site?

Cheers,

Antonia

Canonguy
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Have you got any high-res pics you could e-mail me where I could see the fish more clearly? I had a look on your thread and cannot see anything even remotely reseembling a flathead. With whom did you speak at the museum? One of my friends manages the ichthyology collection there, so he may be a good source of information.

Holly
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Antonia those sightings are brilliant. The fish is definitely a new one for me too - i had heard that there were sightings of them with rats but it wasnt thought to be frequent. 

Really really interesting stuff, thank you for sharing it! 

choosypix
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And a wine cooler bag as well...

choosypix
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Same owl, same bag ..400 metres away, 24 hours later.

timmo
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This series of powerful owl threads is becoming a fascinating study of weird things owls eat (or practise hunting on).

Thanks for sharing, Antonia.

Cheers
Tim
Brisbane

Devster
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Wow he has sure shreaded the cooler bag.

Wonder how much nutrients he got out of it?

Could be the start of jome jokes.

Why did the Powerful Owl cross the road . . . To get a Tea Towl, Shorts and a Cooler Bag for lunch.

choosypix
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Hi Akos, Holly, timmo and Devster.

Thank you for your input. (I like the owl themed joke suggestion)

Today there was another item of clothing ...a torn shirt 10 metres up a tree close to where the tea-towel episode occured.

There was a fragment on the ground underneath with beak-marks in it.

Akos... we sent the photo enquiry the the Museum via the Search and Discover platform.

Their reply was they could not be certain but their guess was a flathead.

However today, we photo'd some similarly lengthed fish (about 10 cms) about 15 metres away

on the freshwater side. Maybe this is what the owl was eating?

Cheers,

Antonia

Canonguy
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Antonia

Those fish in the photo are definitely a mullet species. 

Devster
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Makes sense, as mullet have both fresh & salt water varieties and are a surface fish.

I just noticed in the 4th photo segment with the cooler bag. 

Looks like the owl has been stabbed with a branch. cheeky

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