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Current group research projects

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Colour banding juvenile Powerful Owls The colour banding of pre-fledging Powerful Owl chicks is undertaken annually to gain greater insights into juvenile behaviour, movements and ultimately dispersal. Through radio-tracking and band recoveries we have determined first year movements and now have a greater understanding of dispersal patterns and are one step closer to determining dispersal destinations.  Juvenile mortality is a poorly understood area of Powerful Owl ecology and through colour banding, preliminary mortality data has been obtained.
Morphometric modelling to determine sex of juvenile Powerful Owls While banding juvenile Powerful Owls morphometric data is also collected. This data is being used to develop a morphometric model to determine the sex of fledging chicks. As there is no sexual dimorphism displayed between chicks of this species a model to determine sex is essential. This model will be used to calculate sex ratios and aid in dispersal data, fecundity and mortality rates.
The use of artificial nest boxes for Powerful Owls in urban areas Powerful Owls reside in urban environments, however, despite their presence there is no record of Powerful Owls breeding in highly urbanized areas of Melbourne. Metropolitan parks and bushland reserves contain sufficient prey and suitable roost trees for Powerful Owls but the availability of large tree hollows required for breeding is limited. Consequently, urban parklands and bush remnants may act as an ecological trap as the owls disperse to them but are unable to breed. This study aims to examine whether using artificial next boxes could allow dispersing juveniles to breed and turn urban remnants from sinks to sources of new individuals.  This research is supported through the Parks Victoria Research Partners Scheme.