Birds

Masked Owl - Tyto novaehollandiae

The Masked owl is the worlds largest member of the Barn Owl or Tytonidae family
at 350 – 500mm. Females are larger than the males.

Masked owls occur singularly or in pairs and are naturally a secretive bird, roosting by day in tree hollows, caves or dense foliage. Preferred habitat includes forest, woodland, parks with nearby open country.

These large birds nest in tree hollows or small caves and usually 2-3 eggs are laid. Its voice is rarely heard and is a rasping hiss or screech.

Masked owls are widespread across most of Tasmania but are rarely seen. They do not usually occur on the West and South West coasts.
They can also be found in New Guinea, Indonesia and the Australian mainland.

Wedge-tailed Eagle - Aquila audax

Wedge-tailed eagles in Tasmania are a subspecies called Aquilla audax fleyii
and are larger than there mainland cousins.

These magnificent birds are usually seen resting in dead trees or soaring on thermals often to great heights on the look out for potential prey or carrion.
They prefer open plains, forests and mountainous country.

A large nest of sticks is made high in a tree and 1-3 eggs are laid.
Usually one chick is raised. Wedge-tailed eagles can be heard making a “pee-yaa pee-yaa” sound or a soft “pseet-you”

Wedge-tailed eagles are found throughout Australia including Tasmania.
In Tasmania they are an endangered species and it is believed that there may be as little as 80 breeding pairs left, because of
persecution.

Ravens belong to the family Corvidae, which also includes the crows. Although people call ravens crows, there are actually no
crows in Australia.

Forest ravens are the largest of all ravens at 520-540mm. They are an all black bird, with a large bill and short. Males and
females are very similar.

These birds occur in pairs or large flocks during winter and are frequently seen scavenging for carrion (dead animals). Ravens live in a wide range of habitats including alpine, moorland, dry and wet forests, woodlands, scrub, coastal areas, roadsides and urban areas. Ravens nest is a large basket of sticks lined with shredded bark and usually lay 4 eggs.

Ravens have a deep “korr-korr-korr” with the last note drawn out.
They are considered common and are nomadic.

Swamp Harrier - Circus approximas

Swamp harriers belong to the family Accipitridae which includes eagles, hawks and kites.

They are a large long winged hawk of a brown colour.
They have a white rump and long yellow legs. Females are darker.

Swamp harriers are often alone or in pairs and are usually seen flying low over paddocks, preferring open country, pastures, reed beds and coastal wetlands.

The nest is a platform of reeds or grass low to the ground. 3-5 eggs are laid.

“Swampies” are found in Europe, Africa, Asia, New Guinea and Australia, they are common but they are prone to disturbance when nesting.
In Tasmania they are widespread but migrate north for winter.

Tawny Frogmouth - Podargus strigoides

Frogmouths are a largish bird (330-460mm) with a large head, yellow eyes and a broad bill. The feathers are mostly grey but are intricately marked with black and white mottling and streaks. This mottling is superb camouflage and despite frogmouths being quite common they are rarely seen. During the day they are motionless in trees, relying on their camouflage for protection.

They are a nocturnal bird that live singularly, in pairs or small family groups.
Nesting is on a flimsy platform of twigs in trees. Frogmouths are more commonly found in forests, woodlands, parks and gardens. They are widespread throughout Australia (including Tasmania) and considered common.

Frogmouths have a characteristic and persistent call which sounds like “oom-oom-oom” and is repeated slowly many times.

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