Powerful Owls!

Shivers of delight. After a seriously long time I finally spent a few moments with a magnificent pair of Powerful Owls.

 

Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua)
1/640, f/4.0, ISO 6400

 

It’s hard to write about the image of the Powerful Owl above when I can’t stop looking at it, I think I’m being hypnotised. The owl’s look is so intense, so powerful and I am thrilled to have finally seen them. Thank you Ken!

Powerful Owl are Australia’s largest nocturnal species and can be found from southeastern South Australia, through Victoria and New South Wales to southeastern Queensland. They are listed as Endangered in South Australia and Victoria, and as Vulnerable in New South Wales and Queensland. Powerful Owls rely on large hollows for breeding and are adversely impacted by land clearing and the logging of old growth forests.

Powerful Owls are hawk owls and measure about 65cm in height and weigh 1.0- 2.2kg with a wingspan of 135cm. These owls have yellow eyes but their pupils were widely dilated in the low light conditions and the yellow can be more clearly seen when I’m looking at high resolution images. The dark chevrons on their underparts are diagnostic in areas where they overlap with Rufous Owls.

 

Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua)
1/640, f/4.0, ISO 6400

 

You may have noticed the dark patch on the owl’s underparts in the top image. The second image was taken immediately prior to the owl looking straight at me and shows it preening with oils it had just gathered from the uropygial gland above its tail (thanks Fiona for helping to confirm this). If you look closely at the top image you’ll see where it looks as though a knob of butter has been smudged onto a patch of feathers.

 

Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua)
1/640, f/5.6, ISO 6400

 

I’ve included the image above, as poor as it is, as it shows the owl’s feathered legs and massive yellow-orange feet with super long talons. Powerful Owls feed mainly on Common Ringtail Possums but will also take other small mammals, birds and large insects. They hunt from a perched position, swooping onto their prey which they often hold draped over a branch until eating it the following day.

Powerful Owls will attack humans who they feel are a threat to their nesting site, and tragically nests are sometimes abandoned. A few years ago I listened to an interview where a guy called himself a ‘one-eyed birder’ after being attacked by an owl.

 

Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua)
1/640, f/4.0, ISO 6400

 

A hint of the owl’s yellow iris can be seen in the image above.

 

Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua)
1/640, f/4.0, ISO 6400

 

I have seen Powerful Owls a couple of times before. The first time was on a dirt track late one evening; it was with prey at the side of the track. I’d presumed it was taking a rabit but at the time I was told they didn’t go to ground with prey, which made me think maybe it had dropped a possum. With the reading I’ve done over the past few days I’ve learned that they do occasionally take rabbits so maybe I was right in the first place. My second sighting was when one flew between me and a full moon, it was utterly magical.

 

Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua)
1/640, f/4.0, ISO 6400

 

Male Powerful Owls are generally larger than females. Females have a narrower head with a more rounded crown according to The Australian Bird Guide. The breeding season begins during May and June, and Powerful Owls mate for life; partnerships of over 30 years have been recorded. They start the season by gradually roosting close together so hopefully these guys are planning to raise a couple of healthy chicks this year.

 

Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua)
1/640, f/4.0, ISO 6400

 

The preening image above shows a profile of the owl’s powerful bill as it daintily adjusts a feather. Powerful Owls maintain large territories and neighbouring nests can be between 5-20 kilometres from each other. They are remarkable birds and I am delighted to be able to share these images.

Happy birding

Kim

 

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