A Tasmanian boobook owl spotted at Cape Liptrap, Saturday night, October 31. Photo by Pauline Wilkinson By Nola Thorpe
MANY birdos in the local area are talking about a Tasmanian boobook owl sighted around Cape Liptrap recently.
MANY birdos in the local area are talking about a Tasmanian boobook owl sighted around Cape Liptrap recently.
I have seen a couple of southern boobooks around this area and I really think they must be one and the same bird. I have looked in several bird books and cannot find a mention of a particular Tasmanian species although they are apparently smaller and more heavily spotted with white.
The photos I have seen of the Liptrap owl have very distinctive yellow eyes so perhaps that is the difference.
They are probably more commonly known as a Mopokes because of the very distinctive calls you will hear coming from the bush at night. There is also a New Zealand species known as Moreporks, once again known by their calls.
When I was a kid and lived near the bush, mopokes were very common and we were quite used to them.
A few years ago I was walking in the Baldhills Reserve and came across some grey fantails making a great fuss. On investigating, I discovered a southern boobook with two young beside her calmly watching the whole attempt to chase her off.
Graeme Chapman has some good information on southern boobooks.
The photos I have seen of the Liptrap owl have very distinctive yellow eyes so perhaps that is the difference.
They are probably more commonly known as a Mopokes because of the very distinctive calls you will hear coming from the bush at night. There is also a New Zealand species known as Moreporks, once again known by their calls.
When I was a kid and lived near the bush, mopokes were very common and we were quite used to them.
A few years ago I was walking in the Baldhills Reserve and came across some grey fantails making a great fuss. On investigating, I discovered a southern boobook with two young beside her calmly watching the whole attempt to chase her off.
Graeme Chapman has some good information on southern boobooks.