13 Feb 2009 Broome - and down came the rain, and oh how nice it is too........the pic below left shows you how close the rains and high tide come the the end of the runway of Broome International Airport.......mmmm.
And check out Mr Owl here, I think he is a barking owl, shall check that out - he is very handsome and sitting just outside our bus on our fence. Yep Google says: "The Barking Owl is a typical hawk-owl, with staring, yellow eyes and no facial-disc. It is grey to greyish-brown above, with white spots on the wings and almost white underneath with greyish-brown vertical streaks. The larger male may be up to 45 cm in length, It has an unmistakable, quick, dog-like ‘wook-wook’ territorial call, which it repeats. Pairs of birds perform call-and-answer duets; the male’s call is slower and deeper. It also has a rather terrifying, high-pitched tremulous scream, heard early in the breeding season, that has earned it the name ‘screaming-woman bird'. The Barking Owl lacks the definite heart-shaped face of the tyto-owls (which include the Barn Owl). Barking Owls are nocturnal birds (night birds), although they may sometimes be seen hunting during the day. The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the Barking Owl,Ninox connivens, Latham 1851 as a VULNERABLE SPECIES on Schedule 2 of the Act. Listing of vulnerable species is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.
The Scientific Committee has found that:
1. The Barking OwlNinox connivens is approximately 40cm in length and weighs 300-500 grams. It is terrestrial, and generally nocturnal, although more active by day than most owls. It nests in tree hollows and lays 2-4 eggs. The species generally lives in pairs, and territory size is generally large (greater than 100 ha).
2. The Barking Owl is at the top of the food chain, taking birds, mammals and some invertebrates, although the exact requirements of the species are not well known in terms of prey, habitat floristics and habitat structure.
3. The Barking Owl lives in woodlands, primarily, but occurs in forests, partially cleared areas and occasionally near or in rural towns and well-treed suburbs.
4. The primary habitat of the Barking Owl - woodland - has declined dramatically due to clearing for agriculture and other human development.
5. The records of the Barking Owl in the past decade have declined, and there are records in the scientific literature that suggest the distribution and abundance of the species are in decline.
7. Given the evidence of the decline in numbers, decline in habitat, low reproduction rate, and position at the top of the food chain, the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that the Barking Owl will become endangered in nature unless the factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate and is therefore eligible for listing as a vulnerable species."
The Scientific Committee has found that:
1. The Barking OwlNinox connivens is approximately 40cm in length and weighs 300-500 grams. It is terrestrial, and generally nocturnal, although more active by day than most owls. It nests in tree hollows and lays 2-4 eggs. The species generally lives in pairs, and territory size is generally large (greater than 100 ha).
2. The Barking Owl is at the top of the food chain, taking birds, mammals and some invertebrates, although the exact requirements of the species are not well known in terms of prey, habitat floristics and habitat structure.
3. The Barking Owl lives in woodlands, primarily, but occurs in forests, partially cleared areas and occasionally near or in rural towns and well-treed suburbs.
4. The primary habitat of the Barking Owl - woodland - has declined dramatically due to clearing for agriculture and other human development.
5. The records of the Barking Owl in the past decade have declined, and there are records in the scientific literature that suggest the distribution and abundance of the species are in decline.
7. Given the evidence of the decline in numbers, decline in habitat, low reproduction rate, and position at the top of the food chain, the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that the Barking Owl will become endangered in nature unless the factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate and is therefore eligible for listing as a vulnerable species."
