Can you imagine camped out in the bush at night and hearing that?
I have spent a lot of time ‘going bush’ and I have heard it on several occasions… it sounds much more like a human in distress than what you get from that second recording. You dont sleep easily afterwards.
Yes, the scream is a rarely used call, the bark is quite common… they carry on barking to each other for hours.
It belongs to the hawk-owl family. The name is appropriate, they are ferocious hunters.
We like to encourage owls, they help control rodents and do not impact on native wildlife the way cats do.
This reminded me a year ago, at my mom’s house, husband and I were outside after dark in the front yard and heard what sounded like someone in distress nearby. We both walked up and down the street trying to find someone outside who seemed to be crying out. Finally realized as I neared a large tree in a neighbor’s backyard, it was a screech owl. I had heard of them of couse, but never heard one till then. Song B on the page is close, but I swore someone was saying “HELP!”
Injured crested pigeon in my front yard all day… I caught it last night and put it in a box with some water (We get wandering cats - despite being near some bushland and wilderness - I HATE people who let their cats out at night! Rangers should be allowed to shoot them on sight) - anyway - I checked it out this morning to see if it was still unable to fly - and - no - still can’t fly
So I boxed it up again and took it to a wildlife rescue place not far from me…
Anyway - they’re reasonably common and not endangered - but fingers crossed this one makes it…
I get lotsa birdlife in my front yard from nearby bushland and wilderness - I have a birdbath - the crested pigeons will come down for a drink with me sitting only about 6-8 feet away…
Yes, I used to breed aviary birds. Now I try to photograph birds. I am afraid I am not a skilled photographer, it is more a matter of using photos to help identify bird species.
I would like to try recording bird songs.
Birds are our guardian angels. They are always around and help to sooth our troubled spirits.
No - too small for wedgetail eagle - I’ve seen plenty of them before (scavenging roadkill on the Eyre Highway in the middle of the “big paddock”) - and there’s two pairs of wedgies in some open bushland “reserve” north of me (about 7-8 km north of me - spot called “Whiteman Park”) - I’ve seen the more southerly pair soaring looking for prey (and getting mobbed by crows / ravens).
Also - I’m colourblind - and too far away to guess-timate colour of its plumage anyway…
Before I had kids - I built an aviary and kept a few native (under license) birds - zebra finches, blackheart finches, and cockatiels (we call them weeros in West Australia), and native quails…
Was never able to get the blackheart finches to breed - but - the zebra finch is a common cagebird worldwide (nearly as ubiquitous as the humble Aussie budgie) and I ended up having to cull their nests from time to time…
Until some roaming dogs busted open the wire of the aviary and killed all the quails (didn’t eat them) and ALL the finches escaped… The male cockatiel stayed in the aviary and I was able to capture him and he was able to lure the female back by calling…
But it was never the same again after that… Then kids came along and I didn’t have time…
