I didn't think they were very common around Sydney either, having
recently learnt they were a savannah/woodland bird, not really what I
would have associated with Hills district Sydney (which I reckon is
full of wet sclerophyl gullies and lantana with very little other
vegetation, all of the flat ridges have houses on them).
But checking the NPWS Wildlife atlas suggests there are 10-15 records
from North East of Sydney (Hills District and slightly north) since
1980. However, a friend of mine has expressed misgivings about the
data quality of this service and the quality of the surveyers. Could
they have mistook a Boobook also?
It's pretty exciting if it is a Barking (I'll be driving down to look
for it) so good luck getting a picture of the beast. Feathers or other
DNA evidence will also be acceptable.
EB
On 7/17/07, Kurtis Lindsay <> wrote:
Chris,
Barking Owls are not common whatsoever in Sydney, and I am doubtful to
beleive they have ever even been recorded anywhere near Chatswood.
Might you be mistaking for a Southern Boobook Owl or even a yapping dog?
I am pretty sure the closest place to Chatswood (and the rest of sydney) you
may find a Barking Owl is in the Capertee valley (west of Lithgow) and even
there they are quite scarce!
A Boobook Owl is much more possible in Chatswood, as a matter of fact I
heard one calling near my house in East Killara last night!
As the crow (or owl) flies, Killara is quite close to Chatswood so I
wouldn't be supprised if there were Boobooks there aswell.
Kurtis Lindsay
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