Western Australia – Owls in Towels https://owlsintowels.org/ Mon, 03 Nov 2025 11:20:41 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 https://owlsintowels.org/content/media/tBNh7to.png Western Australia – Owls in Towels https://owlsintowels.org/ 32 32 Rat Poison Kills More Than Rats https://owlsintowels.org/rat-poison-kills-more-than-rats/ https://owlsintowels.org/rat-poison-kills-more-than-rats/#respond Sun, 02 Nov 2025 23:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=2434 This Australian Masked Owl has a heart-shaped facial disk, much like his cousin the Barn Owl from the same genus, Tyto. His feathers are generally light tan to white in colour, with the exception of flecks of brown around his neck, and a dark ring of brown around his head, forming the "mask" from which he gets his name. He is wrapped in an orange towel, held by a person in black clothes in an outdoor setting.

This Masked Owl was featured in an ABC article on native Australian animals that sadly are often killed by rat poisons ☠️

The owl is fine by the way they just needed a model.

Masked Owl from Capes Raptor Centre
located in Margaret River, Western Australia
Website | Instagram | Facebook

Original article by Madigan Landry at ABC South West:
Despair Over Owl Deaths as Regulator in Fourth Year of Rat Bait Review

Summary below in 100 words:

Wildlife carers say rodenticides are having a devastating impact on native wildlife. People buying these poisons – readily available in hardware stores and supermarkets – bait mice and rats, and can inadvertently kill hunter animals like owls that eat the poisoned prey. Owls can eat 1000 mice a year. Local councils in Western Australia are working with wildlife advocates to protect dwindling owl populations by seeking limits on the availability of these poisons and their spread in the food chain. The regulating body APVMA (Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority) was expected to finalise their anticoagulant rodenticides review in July. It is now November.

Big feets.
Such a good looking owl.

Note: There’s no donation page on the Capes Raptor site, so if you really want to have an impact, read the original article above and write to APVMA (enquiries@apvma.gov.au) Rark them up about these poisons and remind them their regulatory report is 4 months overdue.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Tyto novaehollandiaeAustralian Masked OwlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/rat-poison-kills-more-than-rats/feed/ 0 An Ornery Owl https://owlsintowels.org/an-ornery-owl/ https://owlsintowels.org/an-ornery-owl/#respond Sat, 25 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=2301 This Boobook looks like the very concept of anger manifested in the form of an owl. The blond feathers on his brow are highlighted (in contrast to the rest of his dark brown plumage) and curved up in a broad U shape, giving us the impression of raw unmitigated rage. More light feathers above the brow look a little like wrinkles, as if the owl were straining to hold such a furrowed look. Then again, these are only feathers; he could be very relaxed for all we know. He has grey-green eyes, heavily diluted. He's barely wrapped, but rather loosely nestled in the folds of a plain white towel. A fleece-like fabric appears behind in pink and green.

25th of Owltober!

Boobook sightings in Perth were up due to mild weather and no. of rodents about. A stern warning from Perth Wildlife Hospital: Don’t use rat and mouse poisons! They kill other animals in the food chain such as birds of prey.

See below for some excellent rodent control tips which can be done WITHOUT poison baits 🐁🪤🌱

Original post – 16 Apr 2020
by Perth Wildlife Hospital
located in Malaga, Western Australia
Website | Instagram | Facebook

Original text:

Recently we have received a spike in reports of Boobook sightings around the Perth suburbs. This is most likely due to the weather being mild, perfect for Boobooks to hunt their favourite food – mice and rats!

Please protect our native wildlife and refrain from using poisonous baits to kill rodents that may live on your property. These poisons have the potential to kill our native birds of prey should they consume the poisoned rodents.

Instead, discourage rodent activity on your property by ensuring excess pet food and fallen fruit isn’t accessible, that chook pens and aviaries are rodent-proof, and by ensuring roof and wall cavities are sealed.

We recommend planting native trees to encourage native bird predators to visit your property. Let nature take care of the mice and rats instead, you’ll be surprised by how much activity may happen in your garden without your knowledge!

Link to donate to Perth Wildlife Hospital for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox boobookAustralian BoobookWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/an-ornery-owl/feed/ 0 Shelter from the Storm https://owlsintowels.org/shelter-from-the-storm/ https://owlsintowels.org/shelter-from-the-storm/#respond Tue, 26 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=2073 An Australian Boobook is couched within the loose folds of a towel, much like a Sarlacc finds its nesting place in the Great Pit of Carkoon. The setting is indoors; behind and out of focus is a cabinet of translucent trays, but the picture is primarily composed of cotton towel. Two dark olive-grey eyes and a single beak emerge from the depths, as well as plumage of gingery brown and caramel fudge feathers, which incidentally match the palette of the towel. Stripes of white on the towel match the X or ⵋ shape of white feathers across the bridge of the owl's beak and brow. He looks bitey.

Original post – 20 Feb 2025

by Kanyana Wildlife
located in Lesmurdie, Western Australia

Website | Instagram | Facebook

This Australian Boobook was posted in the aftermath of a storm in Perth, with a message from Kanyana Wildlife urging people to watch for animals affected by fallen trees:

We would like to ask that everyone please keep an eye out for injured wildlife, if they are cleaning up fallen branches or out on the road. Falling branches and trees are a serious injury risk for possums, parrots, phascogales, owls and other hollow-dependent wildlife and many may be suffering with fractures, ulcerated corneas, concussions, lacerations and internal injuries. They will be frightened, disoriented, in pain and vulnerable to cars, foxes and pets. Many will have lost their homes.

Link to donate to Kanyana Wildlife for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox boobookAustralian BoobookWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/shelter-from-the-storm/feed/ 0 SUPER Happy Burritowl https://owlsintowels.org/super-happy-burritowl/ https://owlsintowels.org/super-happy-burritowl/#respond Wed, 20 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=2058 In the back seat of a vehicle the tattooed arm of a rescuer emerges from bottom left of frame to hold a bundle of Boobook. His look is brown feathers and brown eyes, firmly wrapped in a towel of muted eucalyptus green. If we can project human emotions onto owls, his would be extreme ire bordering on bloodthirst, perhaps due to being wrapped like a common foodstuff. Or perhaps the stern V-shape of his brow is his natural look. Either way it's safe to assume he derives little pleasure from this predicament.

Original post – 27 Jul 2025

by Western Australian Seabird Rescue
located in Mandurah​​, Western Australia

Website | Instagram | Facebook

An Australian Boobook stuck in a warehouse was fortunate to be rescued by WA Seabird Rescue and taken to Perth Wildlife Hospital for hydration and much needed TLC.

Link to donate to Western Australian Seabird Rescue for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox boobookAustralian BoobookWiki link
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