This Powerful Owl was seen in the Sydney Botanical Gardens in a White Fig
tree between the conservatory of music and Government house.
Interestingly, the bird appeared to be feeding on small figs in the tree.
The bird initially reached up and pulled down a branch containing some figs
and appeared to be eating them. After a while it was able to reach its head up
to get to the figs and again, appeared to be eating them.
Has anyone seen this type of behaviour in a Powerful Owl, or any other species
of Owl before? A brief look though HANZAB did not bring up anything other than
birds, mammals and insects in their diet for which the results are based on
pellet samples (presumably if Powerful Owls do eat figs this wouldn't appear in
the their pellets but in their feces).
Very interesting. The photos certainly appear to be of a bird eating figs - but, don't you think the figs look too small and green (i.e. unripe) to be of much value?
I have been receiving regular reports on his bird (presumably in this tree) over the past month (actually there are two birds present) - and each time it, or they, have been seen holding a GH Flying-fox or possum (CBTP and CRTP). So, I guess the figs - if eaten - can only be incidental.