GERMAN OWLS.

Forest and Bird, Issue 28, 1 October 1932, Page 15

GERMAN OWLS.

(By L. W. McCaskill.)

In January, 1929, I spent some time on a sheep station in Southland. Small patches of bush were within a few miles, but most of the trees in the place were introduced pine plantations. Round the homestead, which had acres of trees and shrubs, the following birds were common: Fantails, warblers, tomtits—ground larks were seen quite close to the house. Only an odd owl was seen or heard. Last month I was there again. An odd warbler, very shy and keeping well in cover, and one tomtit were all that I saw. Ground larks keep to the tussock country away from the plantations. Owls are very common, and are active in bright daylight. They call at each other even in the brightest sun, and are particularly active in the late afternoon, when the birds are having their last feed. Blackbirds, thrushes, starlings, and so on, seem to have no fear of them at all, which is quite opposed to Philpott’s description some years ago. The introduced birds have re-learnt the cunning which enabled them to escape the owls in the Old Country.