>From the Hobart Mercury December 1929 courtesy of that gem NLA Trove
Owls Cause Trouble.
There-are owls and owls! We have all heard of the night owl, but it is not
the hitman variety concerning, which Suva is now up in arms. lt was the
masked owl of Tasmania, specimens of which, were sent a little while ago to
Fiji; in the hope that they would rid the island of rats. People in Suva
heard that owls had been very useful on Lord Howe Island in decimating the
rat bri- gades, which were playing havoc with the palm seed industry, so
they appeal- ed to Australia, through Dalgety and Company, who combed New
South Wales and Queensland for the birds asked for, but without success. Mr.
Adams, Of Dalgety and Co., who handled the, matter, says the Fijian people
asked for owls of the Tyto Alba type, commonly known as: the masked owl, and
four pairs; were finally secured from Beaumaris Zoo, Hobart. Now it appears
that since their liberation in Fiji these masked owls have been having the
time of their lives ravaging poultry yards and carrying off the largest
roosters to the tops of high trees, where they are pleasantly decapitating
them. . Fiji says the wrong type of owl was sent. Mr. Adams said to-night
that he was willing to let experts decide whether the owls he despatched
were of the species requested. He is certain they were.
Chris Lloyd
wiyanga.com.au
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