Mar2012_BARKING OWLS
Has anyone around this district heard a Barking Owl? Peter and I have gone 70 years and never heard one till around October last year. I was standing outside just on dark and I heard this unearthly screaming going up the gully near the foot of the mountain at the back of the house.
It made my hair stand up and the dogs went off big time.
I knew it had to be a bird and we heard it just on or after dark over the next two months. I asked everyone I saw if they had any idea of what it was but no one did till I spoke to Judy Law (from Samford Vets) and sister Kerry who are knowledgeable bird watchers.
They explained that it called the “screaming woman bird” and this was confirmed in my Bird Encyclopedia. It commonly just “barks” but if another bird invades its territory it emits this high pitched scream. It ranges over an area between 30-200 hectares and is found along most of the eastern coast according to the Bird Book. It just amazes me that we have not been aware of them before. We have not heard them around for about a month now so they have moved on again. I just wondered if anyone else has them around in their bushland. If you have heard the scream, believe me, you would have noticed it!
Edith Fogg
Ph: 3289 4273
Em: efogg@bigpond.com.au
