FEATHERED FURIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 309, 31 December 1930, Page 7

FEATHERED FURIES.

LITTLE BROWN OWLS.

NEST IN SUBURBAN GARDEN

RAKE FIND AT REMUERA.

A very hostile reception was given ta a "Star" reporter, who, accompanied by a photographer, paid a visit to an owl's; home near Portland Road, Remuera,, yesterday. The home, a spacious hole in a rotting willow tree, was occupied at the time by two flufl'y little owls, over which the mother mounted guard. She was not pleased to see her visitors, a,ni glared at them with her large browa eyes, which do not possess much power in the daylight. This was perhaps fortunate for the human visitors, because tho ,owl soon showed her disapproval by direct action. She swooped down upon those who had dared to disturb tho sanctity of her home. One of the interested visitors was without a hat, and the bellicose "flat dweller" concentrated upon him, alighting on his head and. ruffling his hair.

These wore only the preliminary attacks aiid- finding that the visitors did not intend to bo driven away by her onslaughts, the enraged owl retired to her perch on the tree, where she was joined by her lord and master, and they worked out a plan of campaign. At the first sign of danger the two youngsters retired into the hole, and, chattering and clashing their beaks together, glared at the intruders with large bright eyes. They were brought forward to the edge of the nest to be photographed, but the handling of their progeny was more than the two enraged parents could stand. Noiselessly, and swiftly they swooped down and the male got in a wicked blow on the hatless one's forehead—drawing blood with his razor-like claws.

The .repeated and ferocious attacks somewhat disconcerted the photographer, who found it difficult to keep one eya on the feathered furies and the otlier on the camera. In the end, his companion, armed with a long stick, mounted guard over him, and he was ablo to obtain the pictures. The visitors then retired in orderly fashion, leaving the owls in undisputed possession of their brood.

Usually owls nest in a locality where there is thick bush, and the finding of a nest in an Auckland suburb is rare. In the present instance the nest is practically in the open, although there a;o several heavily-foliagcd trees close by. No material is used by the birds in. the construction of their nest, and they lay their eggs on powder, ground oufc of tin; decayed wood. The Remuera nest is only 3ft oin oil' the ground, bu<; tlifj hole in wliK-h it is constructed is 2ft 4in deep. The nest is in one corner and in the other is a small niche used as a larder. Slice and small birds are used a3 food, but. the parents do not feed them straight away to their young, but keep them in the larder until they arc in a sufficient state of decomposition.