Okay. You guys know I normally share everything with you. It could even be argued that I often over share 😂. But sometimes, just sometimes I have to keep things on the down low. And this is one of those times. It's not everyday that you get to see such a special bird, Australia's largest owl, an owl classified as being vulnerable which means at high risk of extinction in the medium term future.
In a perfect case of being at the right place at the right time, we heard the very, VERY loud calls of this stunning bird (it's the start of breeding season) and had its location pointed out to us with a torch beam. Being so close to it as it called was really surreal and I, in true Backyard Zoology style, missed capturing the call. Still, it was amazing to watch as the owl was very obviously on the hunt, its head turning quickly around at any sound, the bright yellow eyes focusing on the noise maker, assessing its eatability. I got a tad worried for a nearby Brushtail Possum as it loudly huffed and puffed and growled not too far away and most definitely got the once over!
But then just off in the distance, there was a chattering of a couple of Grey-Headed Flying Foxes which being a particular favourite of Powerful Owls, peaked its interest and it took to the sky. Don't worry, you won't see its enormous wingspan as it took off from the branch in this video either. Don't want to give you guys all the good stuff, all at once!
Powerful Owl
Somewhere in the Illawarra
The Powerful Owl Project #powerfulowl #vulnerablespecies Threatened Species Commissioner#abcmyvideo #backyardzoology