Powerful Owl eats bush turkey|14 Feb 12 @ 02:45pm

After many years of having our leafy gardens destroyed by bush turkeys the ultimate solution has been discovered.

A Powerful Owl has seen in Marshall Ave Warrawee with its large talons clutching a bush turkey carcass. Powerful Owls live in pairs and are strongly territorial. They can be up to 65cm long with a 100cm wingspan.

They prefer wet sclerophyll forest, a good example of this habitat can be seen in Marshall Ave where remnant Blue Gum forest remains towering over the houses.

These owls traditionally eat ringtail and glider possums - both of which are common in this location. They have been known to take small dogs and cats.

However the recent explosion in the bush turkey population must have provided a feast for these nocturnal predators.

The garden where the Owl was photographed has a popular turkey roosting tree which can house up to 8 turkeys each night. A veritable take away for the Owl.

It is a good example of magnificent wildlife living with humans if we can only respect their need for hollow trees, forested valleys and low use of pesticides.

Marshall Ave residents are cheering the Owl on in its efforts to reduce the numbers of possums that eat all our lillypillies, vegetables and ornamental flowers and turkeys that scratch up all our gardens.

Long may it reign on our street and fill our nights with a woo-hoo.