aussiebirder

Yes, it is that time again when the Powerful Owl nests annually in the same tree in our local Nature Reserve. We knew to start looking about now and we were pleased to spot the male already watching the nest from the same vantage point as previous years, always with a direct line of sight to the nest. The sun was starting to move down westward and shone onto the left side of its body causing it to close its left eye.

The Powerful Owl is Australia’s largest owl and uses its stealth and silent flight, due to its super soft feathers to hopefully catch a Possum or Sugar Glider each night for its food. It is our chief night raptor. It will catch the prey, eat its head and bring the body to the nest to feed the female and the young when the eggs finally hatch after about 38 days gestation. If there are no possums it may take a bird, domestic cat or a small marsupial. We returned the next day during late morning when the lighting would be better and found both male and female owls sitting not far from each other, in view of the nest, sleeping. You rarely see Powerful Owls perched next to each other, they like their space.

Powerful Owl males are slightly larger than the females and have a more square shaped head.

So it appears the female is having either a rest from the nest or has not yet nested but waiting for the right moment to lay her 1 or 2 dull white eggs.

While we were investigating the owl my wife became extremely excited when she caught sight of a pair of Spotted Pardalote one of Australia’s smallest birds. We have in previous years found its earthen nesting tunnel hidden in embankment nearby but could not locate it on this occasion. We mainly saw the male, with only one capture of the female. The female lacks the bright yellow bib. She also has yellow crown spots whereas the male has white.

This beautiful tiny bird with over two hundred spots on its tiny wings and head, is the shape and size of the eucalypt leaf, feeds high in the canopy and is difficult to see. It feeds on insects and their larvae and lerps, which is found on the underside of the leaf. How amazing is our Creator God.

When this bird is viewed from its underneath it looks very common and in the dark of the tree canopy can easily be mistaken for a leaf, however when viewed from above, which many never get to see, it is beautiful.

This bird is highlighted in my first book “What Birds Teach Us” where it encourages the reader to appreciate people. Click on the image below to find out more about this very unique and helpful book which uses birds to teach our younger people life skills to enjoy a happy healthy life. My books not only teach about the bird and its peculiar characteristics but each bird teaches a life lesson. This book especially designed to teach and encourage the Primary School aged child and is the perfect gift for the parent and grandparent to purchase as it is in many ways so positively helpful.

Have a wonderful week and hopefully get in some birding now the beautiful changing seasons days are here with sunshine, crisp air and clear blue skies which are great for birding.

A quote directly from the above book page:

“We are often wonderfully surprised when we take the time to get to know a person, and find out what they are really like.  You may even become best of friends with them. We all have different aspects to ourselves, and we all have a beautiful side to us. When you give each person the respect and dignity they deserve, and show that you truly value them as a person, you will begin to see their beautiful side. Like the Spotted Pardalote, you will be allowed to see their true beauty as a person from above rather than from below. In return, they will value and love you also in the same way and treat you as a true friend.”
 

Our ever loving Heavenly Father Creator accepts each one of us just as we ar. Even as we selfishly, rebelliously run from His Presence. He displayed his love for us in sending Jesus to be our substitute and suffer and die in our place the death our rebellion deserved, because we had broken relationship with God and his perfectly loving way of life. He loves us faults and all and knows each of us intimately, dearly wanting to relate to us and allow him to love and restore our lives to the peace and joy he intended us to enjoy. Those who truly seek Jesus find him and are never disappointed, but one must desire him and realise the value of trusting and obeying him for life seeing his truly “The Way, the Truth and the Life”

Jesus said: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.” – John 6:44

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Adv. Dip. in Counselling and Family Therapy.

Member of Birdlife Australia

To introduce people to our unique Australian birds,

And learn from them how to live a healthy and happy life.

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