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Ecology and Habitat of a Threatened Nocturnal Bird, the Tasmanian Masked Owl

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Ecology and Habitat of a Threatened Nocturnal Bird, the Tasmanian Masked Owl Ecology and habitat of a threatened nocturnal bird, the Tasmanian Masked Owl By Michael Kenneth Todd B.Sc.(Hons), University of Newcastle Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Tasmania Hobart, Tasmania, Australia August 2012 1 Ecology of the Tasmanian Masked Owl Declarations This thesis contains no material which has been accepted for a degree or diploma in any university or other institution. This thesis, to the best of my knowledge, contains no material previously published or written by another person, except where due acknowledgment is made in the text. This thesis may be available for loan and limited copying in accordance with the Copyright Act of 1968. The research associated with this thesis abides by the international and Australian codes on human and animal experimentation, the guidelines by the Australian Government's Office of the Gene Technology Regulator and the rulings of the Safety, Ethics and Institutional Biosafety Committees of the University. All research conducted was under valid animal ethics approvals. Relevant permits were obtained from the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment and the University of Tasmania Animal Ethics Committee (A0009763 and A0009685). Michael Kenneth Todd 2 Ecology of the Tasmanian Masked Owl Dedication: This thesis is dedicated to the marvelously mysterious Tasmanian Masked Owl. May they continue to haunt Tasmania’s forests. “Once the sun disappears, along with the light, She stretches her wings and sets off in flight, And hunts far and wide well into the night, Small native mammals her especial delight; She’s endangered!” From “The Masked Owl” -Philip R. Rush, Australian Poems That Would Enchant an Echidna (2007) 3 Ecology of the Tasmanian Masked Owl Acknowledgements This research was conducted under permits from the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme and the University of Tasmania Animal Ethics Committee. It was funded in part by the Co-operative Research Centre for Forestry, Winifred Violet Scott Charitable Trust, Australian Geographic Society, Threatened Species Section- Biodiversity Conservation Branch- Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment, Australian Bird Study Association, the Stuart Leslie Award (BirdLife Australia- formerly known as Birds Australia) and the Forest Practices Authority. Many people assisted with the project in a myriad of different ways. Firstly, I would like to thank my supervisors Sarah Munks, Alastair Richardson, Mark Hindell, Rod Kavanagh, Phil Bell, David Bowman and Iain Taylor. People who provided particular logistical support included Daniel Livingston, Shaun Thurstans, Trent Penman, Jason Wiersma, Chris Spencer, David Young, David Ratkowsky, Nick Mooney, David Ratkowsky, Nick Gust, Peter Davies, Rod Knight, Jo Lee, Phil Rush, Steve Stanton, Barry Rumbold, Wayne Kelly, Felicity Wilkinson and Richard Holmes. I would also like to thank those that volunteered their time on the off chance that they might get to see an owl including in particular, Angela Gillone, Sue Drake, Peter Tonelli, Simon Plowright, Chris Coleborn, Bronwyn Luck, Sarah Tassell, Mike Bysouth, John and Shirley Tongue, and Ron and Jill Harris among others. The following people assisted me in making the project work in many different ways; Amy Koch, Murray Lord, Craig Webb, Alan McBride, Peter Shute, Jeff Davies, Tim Bawden, Ed McNabb, David Milledge, Carl Clifford, Adelaide Marshall, Laurie Conole, Stewart Nicol, Virginia Andrews-Goff, Rohan Bilney, Priscilla Park, Linley Grant, Mel Hills, Ninna Millikin, Arthur Clarke, Vanessa Thompson, Martin Stone, Mark Wapstra, Andrew Bonnitcha, Heather Chauncy, Bill 4 Ecology of the Tasmanian Masked Owl Brown, Mark Holdsworth, Matthew Webb, Genevieve Gates, Erin Flynn, Lisa Cawthen, Shannon Troy, Niall Doran, Mike Driessen, Kate Hamilton, Kit Williams, Barrie Wells, Julia and Frank at Seaview Farm, David and Robyn at Millybrook, Mike at Paradise Cottage, Carolyn at Crayfish Creek Caravan Park, Colin and Marje at Taraki Cottages, Mary Kille, Anne Watson, Barry Gallagher, Rodrigo Hamede, Kevin Redd, Tim Reid, Shelly Lachish, Belinda Yaxley, Heidi Auman and Helen Stephens. I thank my family in New South Wales as well as in Tasmania for supporting and encouraging me. In particular, Bev for hours of babysitting, Bron for supporting me through thick and thin and Henry and Lucy for giving me the inspiration I needed to persevere. Finally, I have to acknowledge my father Ernest for teaching me the importance of persistence (or was that stubbornness), and instilled in me the value of having an enquiring mind. 5 Ecology of the Tasmanian Masked Owl 6 Ecology of the Tasmanian Masked Owl Abstract Rare species are often those most in need of conservation measures and yet they are often the least well known and most difficult subjects for scientific research. The methods frequently applied when researching species ecology are often not feasible with rare species. This study investigates the ways in which habitat influences the ecology and distribution of a rare, threatened nocturnal bird, the Tasmanian Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae castanops) using mostly indirect methods. The results provide insight into the value of indirect methods in determining habitat surrogates that may be used in conservation planning for rare and threatened species. Diet of owls in different habitats was determined using analysis of regurgitated pellets and a synthesis of previously published data. It was found that while the owl has a wide range of potential prey species, owls focus on particular prey species in different areas. Introduced species, particularly rodents, made up a large proportion of the diet at most sites. Sites that had little native forest contained low percentages of native species in the diet. Calling behaviour was explored using recordings of owls obtained during call playback surveys and via automatic recording devices set at roost sites. The screech call of the Tasmanian Masked Owl was found to be deeper and to reach higher frequencies than the Australian Masked Owl (T. n. novaehollandiae). Calls were shown to have the potential to discriminate between age, sex and potentially individuals. The occurrence of the owl throughout its potential range in forested areas of Tasmania was investigated using call playback surveys. Occupancy probability modeling (presence-absence data) was used to calculate the detectability of the Tasmanian Masked Owl in call playback surveys and to define habitat and 7 Ecology of the Tasmanian Masked Owl landscape features that best predict owl presence. Wind (negative) and air temperature (positive) were found to have the most influence on Tasmanian Masked Owl detectability, while low elevation, mature dry eucalypt forest was determined to be the best predictor of occupancy. The best occupancy probability model was used to create habitat quality map. The habitat quality map was compared with maps created using presence only records and maximum entropy models. There was broad similarity in the maps although the habitat quality map was more detailed. The occupancy probability methods will be of value for the study of habitat preferences of a wide range of cryptic, and/ or rare species. The survey methodology used would vary depending on the species of interest, but the statistical framework behind the models would remain applicable. The call analysis methods and the diet analysis methods are applicable to studies of other owl species. By combining the results obtained using the indirect techniques with knowledge of owl ecology from the literature, possible causes of the estimated small population size for the Tasmanian Masked Owl were explored. A range of habitat factors can affect the Tasmanian Masked Owl, including nesting and roosting habitat, elevation and mature dry eucalypt forest. Prey availability (abundance and accessibility) is likely to be the ultimate factor responsible for the distribution and abundance of Tasmanian Masked Owls and it probably is reflected in the distribution of low elevation, mature dry eucalypt forest in Tasmania. 8 Ecology of the Tasmanian Masked Owl Table of Contents Declarations .......................................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................... 4 Abstract ................................................................................................................................. 7 CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 21 Ecology of rare species ....................................................................................................... 21 Owls of the world ............................................................................................................... 22 Owl ecology ......................................................................................................................... 23 Research techniques in owl ecology .................................................................................. 26 Australian Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae) ............................................................ 29 Tasmanian Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae castanops) .......................................... 31 Thesis aim and objectives
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