Surveys of the Grass Owl Tyto capensis in Coastal New South Wales

Abstract

Call-playback surveys for the Grass Owl Tyto capensis were conducted in Crowdy Bay National Park and other potential habitat adjoining the village of Harrington, north coastal New South Wales, over six nights in December 1999 (total 63 sites, 46 in the Park). Most sites were surveyed once, but 29 sites were surveyed between two and five times each (total 119 counts). Grass Owls were detected on 17 (14%) counts, at 16 (25%) sites, all in the National Park (35% of Park sites). Allowing for repeat detections of the same individuals at neighbouring sites, 9-10 Owls were detected at 8-9 separate locations, giving a potential population of up to 40 Owls in the entire Park. Grass Owls responded strongly to playback, most (82%) records resulting from the first or sole playback at the sites. However, seven detections were the result of individual Owls being attracted sequentially to playbacks at neighbouring sites 300-400 m apart. Detected Owls responded during or immediately after playback; the most common response was continuous trilling in circling flight.