If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from nature, it’s that birds always know. Sure, other animals are finely tuned in to all the happenings around them, the comings and goings of the bush or their patch of earth, but, let’s face it, no one says what they’re thinking as loudly as birds. I’m looking particularly at you, cockatoos!
All I wanted was a quiet Easter weekend, one where we could take advantage of the sun – on that note, can we all just take a moment and give a collective sigh of relief for seven consecutive days of good weather! – but the local birds just would not shut up. First, it was the currawongs obviously distressed about something. That got my attention, but not enough to rip me away from a good coffee and an even better book. But once the kookaburras started up, giving a throatier laugh than usual, now that got me moving.
I’m thankful for a husband with the same interests as me and, after 14 years of marriage, we’ve got the ‘look’ down pat. I rushed past him, slipping into shoes as I grabbed my camera and gave him a quick nod and a frantic, “The birds know!” and he was soon right behind me.
Any birders out there will know that the next part, the chase, is the fun part. We hustled down the road, listening for the currawongs and the kookas and looking into the towering gums for any signs of movement. It didn’t take long before we were able to roughly work out where the ruckus was coming from.
It involved a bit of rock-hopping across a creek and a tad more searching once we were in the bush itself, but not very far along the path Matt spotted one very large, very beautiful and very hen-pecked Powerful Owl!
These owls are the largest in Australia with a wingspan of up to 140cm. They’re also listed as vulnerable, which means they’re at high risk of extinction in the medium-term future. Finding one just down the road is incredibly special. This owl had its breakfast still tightly clasped in its finger-like talons – an equally beautiful Grey-Headed Flying Fox, albeit missing its head, and a wing and, well, you get the idea.
Powerful Owls love to eat these bats, along with brushtail and ringtail possums and gliders. They’re masters of camouflage with their dappled body amongst the foliage and shadows within the tree canopy, so don’t be surprised if you don’t see one. But if, during the night, you hear a deep, slow, almost mournful ‘hoo-hoo’, you’ll know that you’ve got these special birds around you too.
