Register      Login
Wildlife Research Wildlife Research Society
Ecology, management and conservation in natural and modified habitats
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > WR > WR05058
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 33(3)

The diet of powerful owls (Ninox strenua) and prey availability in a continuum of habitats from disturbed urban fringe to protected forest environments in south-eastern Australia

R. Cooke A D , R. Wallis B , F. Hogan A , J. White A and A. Webster C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood Campus, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Vic. 3125, Australia.

B Office of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Rural and Regional), Deakin University, Warrnambool Campus, Warrnambool, Vic. 3280, Australia.

C Department of Sustainability and Environment, Box Hill, Vic. 3128, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: raylene.cooke@deakin.edu.au

Wildlife Research 33(3) 199-206 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR05058
Submitted: 30 June 2005  Accepted: 16 March 2006   Published: 31 May 2006

Abstract

This study investigates the diet of six breeding pairs of powerful owls in the Yarra Valley Corridor in Victoria, Australia, and compares prey consumption with prey availability. The six sites represent a continuum of habitats, ranging from urban Melbourne, through the urban fringe interface to a more forested landscape. We found that powerful owls in the Yarra Valley Corridor are reliant almost exclusively on arboreal marsupial prey as their preferred diet, with 99% of their overall diet comprising four arboreal marsupial species. These four species (the common ringtail possum, common brushtail possum, sugar glider and greater glider) were also the most abundant species observed while spotlighting; however, their abundance varied along the continuum. There was a strong positive relationship with the presence of these species in the diet and their site-specific availability, indicating that the powerful owl is a generalist hunter, preying on the most available prey at a given site and in a given season. This study suggests that food resources are high in these disturbed urban fringe sites and it is unlikely that food availability in urban environments will limit the potential survival of urban powerful owls.


Acknowledgments

We thank the Holsworth Wildlife Research Fund, the M.A. Ingram Trust, Birds Australia, and Deakin University for providing financial support as without such support this research would not have been possible. We also acknowledge the constructive suggestions provided by referees of this manuscript.


References

Archer M., and Clayton G. (1984). ‘Vertebrate Zoogeography and Evolution in Australasia.’ (Hesperian Press: Perth.)

Brunner H., and Coman B. J. (1974). ‘The Identification of Mammalian Hair.’ (Inkata Press: Melbourne.)

Chafer, C. J. (1992). Observations of the powerful owl (Ninox strenua) in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions of New South Wales. Australian Bird Watcher 14, 77–84.
Clarke K. R., and Warwick R. M. (1994). ‘Change in Marine Communities: An approach to Statistical Analysis and Interpretation.’ (Plymouth Marine Laboratory: Plymouth, UK.)

Cooke R., and Wallis R. (2004). Conservation management and diets of powerful owls (Ninox strenua) in outer urban Melbourne, Australia. In ‘Urban Wildlife Conservation. Proceeding of the 4th International Symposium’. (Eds W. Shaw, L. Harris and L. VanDruff.) pp. 110–113. (CALSMART Publishing: Tuscon, AZ.)

Cooke, R. , Wallis, R. , Webster, A. , and Wilson, J. (1997). Diet of a family of powerful owls (Ninox strenua) from Warrandyte, Victoria. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 109, 1–6.
Cooke R., Wallis R., and Webster A. (2002a). Urbanisation and the ecology of powerful owls (Ninox strenua) in outer Melbourne, Victoria. In ‘Ecology and Conservation of Owls’. (Eds I. Newton, R. Kavanagh, J. Olsen and I. Taylor.) pp. 101–106 (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)

Cooke, R. , Wallis, R. , and White, J. (2002b). Use of vegetative structure by powerful owls in outer urban Melbourne, Victoria, Australia – implications for management. Journal of Raptor Research 36, 294–299.
Fleay D. (1968). ‘Nightwatchmen of Bush and Plain.’ (Jacaranda Press: Brisbane.)

Green R. H. (1983). ‘An Illustrated Key to the Skulls of the Mammals in Tasmania.’ (Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery: Launceston, Tas.)

Hollands D. (2004). ‘Owls. Jouneys around the World.’ (Bloomings Books: Melbourne.)

James, J. W. (1980). Food of the powerful owl (Ninox strenua) in south-eastern Queensland. Emu 80, 34–35.
Kavanagh R. P. (2002). Comparative diets of the powerful owl (Ninox strenua), sooty owl (Tyto tenebricosa) and masked owl (Tyto novaehollandiae) in south-eastern Australia. In ‘Ecology and Conservation of Owls’. (Eds I. Newton, R. Kavanagh, J. Olsen and I. Taylor.) pp. 174–191. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)

Kavanagh R. P. (2004). Conserving owls in Sydney’s urban bushland: current status and requirements. In ‘Urban Wildlife More than Meets the Eye’. (Eds D. Lunney and S. Burgin.) pp. 93–108. (Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales.)

Lavazanian E. B. (1996). Diet and habitat of the powerful owl (Ninox strenua). M.App.Sci. Thesis, Deakin University, Melbourne.

Lavazanian, E. , Wallis, R. , and Webster, A. (1994). Diet of powerful owls (Ninox strenua) living near Melbourne, Victoria. Wildlife Research 21, 643–646.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Merrilees D., and Porter J. K. (1979). ‘Guide to the Identification of Teeth and some Bones of Native Land Mammals Occurring in the Extreme South West of Western Australia.’ (Western Australian Museum: Perth.)

Pavey, C. R. (1992). Impact of powerful owl (Ninox strenua) predation on a population of the greater glider (Petauroides volans): a response to Kavanagh (1988). Australian Journal of Ecology 17, 463–467.
Pavey C. R. (1993). The distribution and conservation status of the powerful owl (Ninox strenua) in Queensland. In ‘Australian Raptor Studies’. (Ed. P. Olsen.) pp. 144–154. (Australasian Raptor Association & Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union: Melbourne.)

Pavey, C. R. (1994). Records of the food of the powerful owl (Ninox strenua) from Queensland. Sunbird 24, 30–39.
Soderquist T. R. (1999). Home range and habitat quality of the powerful owl in the box–ironbark forest. Unpublished report. Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Melbourne.

Soderquist T. R., Lowe K. W., Loyn R. H., and Price R. (2002). Habitat quality in powerful owl (Ninox strenua) territories in the box–ironbark forest of Victoria, Australia. In ‘Ecology and Conservation of Owls’. (Eds I. Newton, R. Kavanagh, J. Olsen and I. Taylor.) pp. 91–99. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)

Tilley, S. (1982). The diet of the powerful owl (Ninox strenua) in Victoria. Australian Wildlife Research 9, 157–175.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Traill B. (1993). The diet and movement of a pair of powerful owls (Ninox strenua) in dry forest. In ‘Australian Raptor Studies’. (Ed. P. Olsen.) pp. 155–169. (Australasian Raptor Association & Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union: Melbourne.)

Triggs B. (1996). ‘Tracks, Scats and Other Traces: a Field Guide to Australian Mammals.’ (Oxford University Press: Melbourne.)

Van Dyck, S. , and Gibbons, D. (1980). Tuan (Phascogale tapoatafa) predation by powerful owls. Victorian Naturalist 97, 58–63.
Webster A., Humphries R., and Lowe K. (1999a). Powerful owl Ninox strenua. Action Statement No. 92, Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act. Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Melbourne.

Webster, A. , Cooke, R. , Jameson, G. , and Wallis, R. (1999b). Diet, roosts and breeding of powerful owls (Ninox strenua) in a disturbed, urban environment: a case for cannibalism? Or a case for infanticide? Emu 99, 80–83.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |