Australian Field Ornithology 2018, 35, 117–118 http://dx.doi.org/10.20938/afo35117118

Remote camera capture of a Powerful Owl Ninox strenua bathing and drinking

Stacey McLean

16 Lisle Street, Tarragindi QLD 4121, Email: [email protected]

Abstract. Images captured by remote camera of a Powerful Owl Ninox strenua probably bathing and drinking are documented and described. The images add important visual records to the few published written descriptions of these behaviours.

Introduction reaches of Moggill Creek catchment, Upper Brookfield, , Queensland. A Reconyx HC600 Hyperfire The application of remote-camera technology is an remote camera was deployed for a total of 200 days, established tool for capturing important ecological occurring across two time periods: 3 August–1 November information on fauna (Brandis et al. 2014; Dawson et al. 2015 and 5 February–2 June 2016. It was configured to 2018). This survey technique can also provide important take three consecutive pictures at 1-second intervals data on the behaviours and habitat use of threatened when triggered by motion. There was no set pause period wildlife that are not well understood. Such observations between triggering events. The camera was positioned, can add to our collective knowledge while also informing ~2 m from the edge of the pool, to identify any vertebrate avenues for further study (McLean et al. 2017; Stojanovic fauna using a small freshwater pool in the gully. When full, et al. 2017). this pool is ~50 cm in diameter and it has a maximum depth of 15 cm. It is the largest and deepest along the gully (and This paper documents an incidental recording of a apparently held water throughout the year). There were Powerful Owl Ninox strenua appearing to bathe and drink several smaller pools holding water within 15 m of it, and at a natural freshwater pool in Brisbane, Queensland. larger freshwater pools ~200–300 m downstream also held This species is listed as Vulnerable in Queensland (QDES water at the time of the study. 2018) and is recognised as a Significant Fauna Species by the Brisbane City Council (BCC 2018). Observations on drinking and bathing by Australian owls are rare in the Results literature. The use of remote cameras around waterholes provides some potential as a means of detecting rare A Powerful Owl was recorded in three images over a species such as the Powerful Owl. For these reasons, the 3-second period, at 0441 h on 30 October 2015 (Figure 1). recording is presented here. The sequence of images captures several of the Owl’s movements: (1) the Owl is standing in the pool, with shallow immersion of tail- and wing-feathers in the water; Methods (2) the Owl’s beak has moved closer to the water-surface (and possibly some of its belly-feathers are immersed in The survey was undertaken within a closed dry rainforest the water); and (3) the bird is turning its head to the right in an ephemeral gully on private property in the upper (probably just before flying). No other observations of

a b c

Figure 1. Sequence of remote-camera images of a Powerful Owl (a) standing in a pool (0441.13 h), (b) drinking and/ or immersing belly-feathers in the water (0441.15 h), and (c) probably about to depart (0441.16 h), Upper Brookfield, Queensland, 30 October 2015. Photos reproduced courtesy of Brisbane City Council, Brisbane, Queensland. 118 Australian Field Ornithology S. McLean any other Australian owl (or any other bird of prey) were Acknowledgements captured during the two monitoring periods. The Brisbane City Council is thanked for providing access to the images, particularly Cody Hochon, who provided detailed Discussion information about the location and remote camera survey. Thanks go also to Stephen Debus and Liz Gould for helpful comments on drafts of this manuscript. Published observations of Australian owls drinking or bathing in natural environments are uncommon and limited to brief written statements, with few specific details of the References physical movement of the bird, their duration or timing (e.g. BCC (2018). 8.2.4 Biodiversity areas overlay code, Brisbane City McNabb 1996). Plan 2014. Brisbane City Council, Brisbane. Available online: http://eplan.brisbane.qld.gov.au/ (retrieved 15 March 2018). Observations by Fleay (1944), Hollands (1991) and Brandis, K.J., Koeltzow, N., Ryall, S. & Ramp, D. (2014). Kavanagh (in Higgins 1999) for the Powerful Owl, Barking Assessing the use of camera traps to measure reproductive Owl N. connivens and Southern Boobook N. boobook success in Straw-necked Ibis breeding colonies. Australian document bathing as occurring near or before dawn, soon Field Ornithology 31, 99–106. after dusk, and in one case during the day (because of Dawson, S.J., Adams, P.J., Moseby, K.E., Waddington, K.I., high air temperatures). McNabb (1996) did not observe Kobryn, H.T., Bateman, P.W. & Fleming, P.A. (2018). Peak hour in the bush: Linear anthropogenic clearings funnel pre-dawn bathing but did observe a female Powerful Owl predator and prey species. Austral Ecology 43, 159–171. partly immersing her body momentarily in water at the Fleay, D. (1944). Watching the Powerful Owl. Emu 44, 97–112. head of a gully, before flying away to preen. Fleay (1944) Higgins, P.J. (Ed.) (1999). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand briefly noted an adult female Powerful Owl flying down to & Antarctic Birds, Volume 4: Parrots to Dollarbird. Oxford a creek to ‘drink’. University Press, Melbourne. Hollands, D. (1991). Birds of the Night. Reed, Sydney. In the present observation, the duration of the bird’s stay McLean, W.R., Goldingay, R.L. & Westcott, D.A. (2017). Visual at the pool might have been longer than that recorded. lures increase camera-trap detection of the southern Detection is dependent upon an animal entering, leaving cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii). Wildlife Research or crossing between any of 12 detection zones (within 44, 230–237. McNabb, E.G. (1996). Observations on the biology of the two separated horizontal ‘bands’) within the camera’s field Powerful Owl Ninox strenua in southern Victoria. Australian of view, as well as a sufficient differential between the Bird Watcher 16, 267–295. animal’s and the ambient temperature. An analysis of other QDES (2018). List of Vulnerable Animal Species. Queensland images of birds captured during the present study also Department of Environment and Science, Brisbane. indicate very brief visits suggesting the above factors or Available online: https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/ other camera operations affecting the duration of visitation threatened-species/vulnerable/vulnerable_animals.html (retrieved 26 February 2018). captured. Stojanovic, D., Fernanda, A., Cook, H., Crates, R., Heinsohn, R., The images documented here provide a visual record Peters, A., Rayner, L., Troy, S.N. & Webb, M.H. (2017). Further of what appear to be drinking and bathing behaviours knowledge and urgent action required to save Orange-bellied Parrots from extinction. Emu 118, 126–134. of a Powerful Owl. This interpretation is consistent with previous written records of the species in other parts of its range in terms of catchment location, time of occurrence, Received 11 April 2018, accepted 7 July 2018, and the bird’s physical movements. published online 3 October 2018