Hawk-owls lack the definite heart-shaped face of the... Habitat. Schedvin, N. (2008) Post-fire recovery of the barking owl Ninox connivens population in the Chiltern- Mount Pilot National Park and surrounds. Victorian Flora & Fauna Guarantee Action Statement No. Conduct surveys to locate as many resident pairs of Barking Owls as possible across land tenures throughout the main range of the species. This owl is colored brown with white spots on its wings and a vertically streaked chest. They have been observed to hunt reasonably close to their nest site (1-2km) but distances may alter depending on habitat quality Studies have found home ranges in semi arid areas averaging 2,000 ha (Kavanagh and Bamkin 1995). They have varied calls ranging from a Wuk-wuk hooting call, a low growling call, a dog like woof woof call and a human-like scream (Hodgson 1996, Simpson & Day 1996). Viewed from the front its chest and abdomen are white with brownish-grey vertical streaks. environments (i.e., how many breeding barking owl pairs will an area support? Nesting occurs from July to October, during which time the Barking Owl uses large tree hollows producing between 2-3 young. Foraging behaviours include; Short stay perch hunting (changing position after 1 min), hawking (short bursts of erratic flying) and long stay perch hunting. Fox predation and competition for prey species by foxes and feral cats have been identified as threatening processes in NSW. Impact of the 2003 Eldorado Fire on Barking Owls (Ninox connivens connivens), North East Victoria. Nocturnal studies across the western Victoria in 1998-1999 recorded Barking Owls at only 11 sites (4.3%) of 257 carefully selected sites and found only 6 sites (8%) of 75 sites where they had been reported during 1980’s and 1990’s which could indicate a continuing deterioration in the species status (Taylor & Kirsten 1999). The population is now down to 10 active sites, of which 9 are breeding pairs. Two subspecies of Barking Owl Ninox connivens are recognised from mainland Australia; In Victoria, the Barking Owl could have an estimated population size of fewer than 50 pairs (Silveira 1997) with North East Victoria being the remaining stronghold area. A similar trend of decline has been recorded in New South Wales (NPWS 2003) and in areas of North East Victoria where there was a population decline in the Chiltern - Mt Pilot National Park of 60% between 2003 to 2005 (Schedvin 2008). The relationship between occurrence of hollows in trees and Barking Owl habitat also applies to habitat for the production of prey species, some which are also dependent on hollow trees eg. ORDER STRIGIFORMES FAMILY STRIGIDAE Barking Owl (Ninox connivens) The Barking Owl nests in large tree hollows, which restricts its range to those areas with a sufficient number of old growth trees to support a population. There are a number of old records which require detailed survey to ascertain if Barking Owls are still present e.g. Being a top order predator the Barking owl can be impacted upon by loss of prey species caused through habitat degradation and fragmentation, logging, firewood harvesting wildfires and excessive burning. Strategic long-term planning of conservation actions - habitat conservation actions may also enable greater conservation gains for barking owls if they are prioritised in relation to the relative impact for effort. Barking Owls have a preference for hunting in open woodland/forest edge habitats. There are many sites within the South West of Victoria for example that had previous records which were not confirmed in the 1998-1999 survey, raising the possibility that Barking Owls could have been lost from those locations (see below). Locate all known Barking Owl sites within the parks and reserves system. Hurley, V. (2006) A short survey of the Murray River from Wentworth to Lock 9 for Barking Owls Ninox connivens, winter 2006. A long term study was undertaken in a semiarid area (620mm annual rainfall) in the Pilliga State Forest in northern NSW which found home ranges averaging 2,000 ha (Kavanagh and Bamkin 1995). If the current trend continues Barking Owls will be. Increase the area of native vegetation in high productivity areas. The survey was focused in the vicinity of where Barking Owls had been recorded in 1995 but no Barking Owls recorded (Hurley 2006). The Barking Owl inhabits open woodland forest habitats where forests adjoin farmlands, effectively creating an open farmland-woodland mosaic. It can be distinguished from the larger Powerful Owl which has barring across its front rather than vertical streaks (Juvenile Powerful Owls have some sparse vertical streaks but not as obvious as the Barking Owl). n order to implement a landscape approach to barking owl conservation, it is, important to be able to evaluate the barking owl carrying capacity of different. Promote the formation of natural hollows. 116, IUCN Red List - Barking Owl (Least Concern). lost from the area within the next 30 years (Schedvin 2008). In larger parks and reserves, identify Barking Owl Management Areas (BOMA’s) of at least 500ha of continuous suitable habitat that can be managed to be free of significant disturbances. Promotion of hollows - it is more likely to be the availability of hollows for prey that is limiting Barking Owls. NPWS (2003) Draft Recovery Plan for the Barking Owl. In 2006 a short 8 nights survey was carried out in suitable habitat along the Murray River at Walpolla Island in Victoria’s North West. Simpson & Day (1996) Field Guide to the birds of Australia, sixth edition, Penguin Books Australia Ltd. Schedvin, K. (2005). New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville, NSW. 135, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW. Being a top order predator the Barking owl can be impacted upon by loss of prey species caused through habitat degradation and fragmentation, logging, firewood harvesting wildfires and excessive burning. Upper wings and back are brown-grey with white spots, flight feathers and tail are barred. Establish BOMA’s on public or private land. Protect all known Barking Owl sites within the parks and reserves system. In Victoria, Queensland and the south west of Western Australia, Barking Owls average around 40cm or more in height. Taylor I. R., Kirsten I. Schedvin, K. (2005). Feral honey bees invading hollows, secondary poisoning from pesticides and mortality from collision with barbed wire fences and wires have also been identified as potential threats (NPWS 2003). Planning permit applications (subdivision, native vegetation clearing, mining etc.) sites from Table1. The Barking owl (Ninox connivens) is regarded as being a moderately large owl about 40cm in length; it has bright yellow eyes and almost no facial mask, which is typical of the ‘hawk owl’ family. In smaller conservation reserves, protect as much suitable habitat as possible and endeavour to obtain co-operative management from adjoining landowners. Use of forest interior habitats is less common; in particular the use of extensive areas of moist forest habitat is uncommon with drier woodlands, particularly box-ironbark woodlands being the most frequented habitat. Silveira ,C.E. 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