Biodiversity Events

The Powerful Owl is listed as Vulnerable under NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act. Over the past 10 years or so, there have been a number of Powerful Owl sightings close to the city of Sydney, even in the Royal Botanic Gardens. Some sightings have also occurred not far away from the GreenWay in Marrickville. 

To help conserve this bird species, The Birds in Backyards Program is currently running the Powerful Owl Project.

 The project aims to locate all the breeding pairs of Powerful Owls in the Sydney region, identify where their nest locations are and record the outcome of each nesting attempt at the end of the breeding season. This information will identify the critical roosting and breeding requirements of the owls and the locations of important areas requiring protection.

 The Powerful Owl is also found throughout the outer suburbs of the greater Sydney metropolitan area, particularly where these suburbs adjoin substantial areas of bushland and reserves. Powerful Owls nest inside large hollows of big old trees and they usually roost during the day among the dense leafy foliage of tall understorey trees and shrubs.  Powerful Owls feed almost exclusively on large tree-dwelling mammals, especially the Common Ringtail Possum, but they also take a few large birds.  The Grey-headed Flying Fox is a favourite food item for the owls, especially when there is a Flying Fox colony nearby

To find out more about how you can help in the Powerful Owl Project (and more about the wonderful Powerful Owl and other owls in Sydney) please visit the Birds in Backyards website.