POWER AND THE PASSION

AS we approach the winter solstice, the powerful owls that live in the forested country around Geelong will be settling into domestic routine.

Each pair will have selected a large hollow tree as the nursery for their family — it may be the same one used last year and in earlier years.

Safe, big hollow trees are scarce now as logging and bushfires have taken a heavy toll over the years.

Access is usually on the side — not the top of the hollow — for this restricts rain from getting in.

There is no need to add any lining to the bottom of the hole, although there may be an accumulation of debris from the previous year’s occupation.

Two white eggs are the usual number, and incubation takes about five weeks. The female is largely, even completely, responsible for keeping the eggs warm.

Once the young hatch, both parents assist in feeding the them, bringing a regular supply of small mammals.

Powerful owls hunt a range of arboreal animals, including ringtail possums, sugar gliders, young koalas, even small brushtail possums.

Birds, too, are taken if the supply of mammals is restricted.

The young would take several months to reach a size where they leave the nest hollow, and by then the coldest weather has passed.

The family stays together until the next breeding season approaches and by then the young are well able to fend for themselves. First-year powerful owls tend to move about in late summer and it is then that they will turn up in unexpected places.

One unexpected feature of the birds is that they are increasingly moving into some of Melbourne’s outer suburbs.

Whether these could ever establish nesting areas is uncertain — but if suitable artificial hollows could be built, perhaps they would do so.

The two main areas around Geelong where powerful owls occur are in the Brisbane Ranges and in the Otways.

Their survival depends on retaining suitable nest-hollow trees, and this is enhanced by both areas being national parks.

Here logging is restricted and known nest-hollow trees can be protected.

Wildlife information and questions can be sent to ppescott@gmail.com