Barking owl survey goes like clockwork
From the Autumn 2007 edition of Bush Telegraph Magazine.
A barking owl family in Newfoundland State Forest east of Grafton were curious witnesses to a textbook ecology survey which played out beneath them late last year.
The owls first heard a tinny call of what they thought was another barking owl (Ninox connivens), but in reality it was ecology field workers Noel Douglas and Robyn Herklots playing a pre-recorded call through a megaphone.
The owls, which are not normally found in coastal forests, dutifully replied, and so a blue dot went on the harvest plan being prepared for the area showing a record for barking owls.
The next bit of detective work was carried out by supervising forestry officer Brent Smith, who saw two owls late one afternoon watching him survey and mark up trees before harvest.
He did some homework overnight, and knowing barking owls had been heard in the area, went back the next day armed with some references, and other Forests NSW staff including regional ecologist Brian Tolhurst, Tim Ruska and Matt Dobson. They found the birds roosting in the same place.
“I started to give the guys a spiel on how they were likely to be a breeding pair and their nest might not be far away,” Brian said.
“About ten seconds later Brent looked up the tree we were standing under.”
Sure enough, there was a juvenile barking owl peering out of a hollow in the tree.
The nesting and roost tree areas have been protected from disturbance and the barking owl family have returned to their usual quiet country life.
Public Affairs & Media, Coffs Harbour
