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Post by Melanie on May 17, 2005 17:00:59 GMT
Sceloglaux albifacies albifacies
There are rumours that its call was heard until 1960. But that was never proofed.
Laughing Owl egg fragments were apparently found in Canterbury in 1960
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Post by Melanie on Jun 3, 2005 8:59:49 GMT
Thomas Henry Potts, described by the ornithologist W. R. B. Oliver as one of the truest naturalists New Zealand has had the good fortune to possess, arrived in New Zealand in 1853 and was one of the few people to have been able to closely observe and describe Whekau, the laughing owl, before it plunged to extinction. He described the call of Whekau, the laughing owl, as a loud cry made up of a series of dismal shrieks frequently repeated. It is this weird cry which earned for it the name, "laughing owl". Others described the call as a high pitched chattering. This outburst was only heard when the birds were on the wing and generally on dark and drizzly nights or immediately preceding rain. The laughing owl belongs to a genus found only in New Zealand and has been estimated to have been in New Zealand for at least a million years and possibly as long as 25 million years. The laughing owl was, as far as is known, a bird of open country rather than of the forest. It was found in rocky places on the Southern Alps and the downs of Canterbury and Otago. Its home was in rocky crevices and caves, often narrow fissures in limestone rocks where both birds and eggs were only with difficulty obtained. However, the famous ethnologist, Elsdon Best reported in his book Forest Lore of the Maori that the Whekau or Hakoke was known to the Tuhoi people in the Te Ureweras in the North Island. They informed him that the laughing or rock owl had disappeared after the coming of the Europeans but was said to have lived in holes in cliffs of the higher ranges. Some of the older members of the tribe could point out to him certain "pari Hakoke" (Hakoke cliffs) formerly frequented by these rock owls. The North Island and South Island birds have been described as sub species. One of the earliest collectors of birds in New Zealand was a Percy Earl who forwarded specimens of the laughing owl to the British Museum where they were reported on and published in 1845. Although the species was then fairly abundant, few specimens were collected after this and within forty years of its discovery it had practically disappeared, says Oliver. The birds began breeding in September or October when nests of dried grass were prepared on bare ground, in rocky ledges or under boulders. Two white eggs just under 5cm were laid and incubation took 25 days. It is not known how long chicks spent in the nest but were fed on worms, according to Oliver. The bird had much the same reddish brown plumage as the morepork but was much larger and with a white face. From the castings found in its habitat, it ate lizards, insects and small birds. From all accounts it was a ground feeder and had developed long sturdy legs for chasing prey on foot. The introduction of mustelids for the killing of rabbits is believed to have contributed to its disappearance. The last specimen recorded was found dead at Blue Cliffs in Canterbury in 1914. There have been unconfirmed reports of laughing owls since then, mainly from Fiordland and some from the North Island but no specimens. Brian Parkinson in his book, The Wandering Naturalist, reports of a laughing owl in the Pakahi near Opotiki in the 1940s. The other major source of information comes from Buller who in turn was informed by a Mr W.W. Smith who managed to breed the owl in captivity and sent Buller "several fine specimens of the bird, together with the eggs and a newly hatched chick" as well as "many letters from him." "February 8, 1882. In compliance with your request I have much pleasure in writing a short account of my experience in trying to breed the laughing owl. The drawing of the bird made a great impression on me when I saw it for the first time in your 'Birds of New Zealand', and since then I have been searching over five years, trying to procure a specimen. "I first heard the laughing owl on a very dark, damp night; I found the birds in fissures of the limestone rocks at this place (Albury, near Timaru), but they are certainly very difficult to find. I first discovered that they were about the rocks by finding several fresh pellets, and being anxious to secure a specimen, I procured long wires and felt in the crevices, but with no good results. I, however, discovered a plan which proved successful. I collected a quantity of dry tussock grass and burned it in the crevices, filling them with smoke. After trying a few crannies, I found the hiding-place of one, and after starting the grass, I soon heard him sniffing. I withdrew the burning grass, and when the smoke had cleared away, he walked quietly out, and I secured him. I obtained four birds by this means. "(The first male) was in beautiful plumage, with the facial disk grey, shading off to white on the outer edges. I remarked that the eyes were conspicuously large, and the iris bright hazel. From the blunted condition of its claws it was evidently a fully matured bird, and to all appearances a male. During the first night of his incarceration he remained perfectly quiet, and refused to take any food. On the following night he moved restlessly about his cage, and once in the evening uttered a loud hailing call, as if wishing to communicate with an absent mate. "I explained in a former letter how very tame they became in a short while after being captured. I also mentioned their call, which varies considerably during the year. When I captured the second pair (male and female) their call for a long time, in waking in the evening, was, as formerly stated, precisely the same as two men "cooeying" to each other from a distance. The voice of the male is much harsher and stronger than the female, and he is also a much larger and stronger bird. "During the period of hatching he is very attentive in supplying his mate with food, as no sooner had the food been put into the large apartment of their house, than he would regularly carry every morsel into the dark recess; I may here correct a mistake which I made in writing to you on a former occasion. I stated that "the male sits by day, the female by night". I only saw the male twice on the eggs, and it was at this time I wrote the letter; but I certainly was mistaken, as the female performs most of three duty of hatching. I also ascertained the difference of the sexes by separating them at night until the second egg was laid. The females are much shyer and more timid than the males, as they hide themselves on hearing the least noise... "I supplied them with many different articles of food, such as beetles, lizards, mice, rats, rabbits, and mutton, of all of which they partook freely; but they have the greatest preference for young or half-grown rats. They are very slow and clumsy in capturing living prey, but their want of proper exercise and freedom may account for this; it may be otherwise in their wild state. "The breeding season may be said to extend over September and October. I found the bird mentioned in my last letter sitting on an egg on the 25th September; but it must have been laid about the beginning of the month, as it contained the chick I sent you. I discovered the bird by reaching a long stick with a lighted taper into the crevice. My captives laid on the 23rd, 27th, and 29 September, and again on the 20th and 22nd October. The birds were very restless and noisy for a fortnight before nesting. They began to moult in December, and are not yet (February 8) in full plumage. When casting their feathers they have a very curious appearance, as they become almost naked." Narena Olliver, 2000. www.nzbirds.com/Whekau.html |
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Post by another specialist on Jun 7, 2005 19:42:43 GMT
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Post by another specialist on Jun 9, 2005 18:53:51 GMT
source for info on entry Re: South Island Whekau Sceloglaux albifacies albi « Reply #1 on Jun 3, 2005, 4:59am » www.nzbirds.com/Whekau.html |
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Post by dysmorodrepanis on Jun 23, 2005 2:34:11 GMT
I always found that interesting. It probably was a lizard specialist that hunted small birds and large insects (such as weta) also, just as the owls of the Mascarenes. But is seems to have developed a taste for the kiore ("young or half-grown rats" would to the bird be just about the same as a kiore).
It can't have been a kiore predator in the first place, because it evolved in absence of rodents.
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Post by another specialist on Jul 23, 2005 9:33:07 GMT
But is seems to have developed a taste for the kiore ("young or half-grown rats" would to the bird be just about the same as a kiore).
dysmorodrepanis wrote
It can't have been a kiore predator in the first place, because it evolved in absence of rodents.
Yes true, but like alot of other species relocate or adjust to new habitat or turn to a suitable alternative diet if there was a lack of there usual habitat or diet due to man.
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Post by dysmorodrepanis on Jul 23, 2005 13:19:27 GMT
At any rate, what becomes clear is that this owl, while quite a sizable bird, went for smallish prey. It could have handled black rats and maybe stoats , but these did not fit in its prey spectrum... if anything it was the other way around  |
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Post by another specialist on Jul 24, 2005 6:34:15 GMT
Yes so true but if there was a lack of correct food it would find something else to try and survive - as they say survival of the fitess
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Post by sebbe67 on Aug 27, 2005 8:53:39 GMT
Once a breeder of open country in New Zealand, breeding in holes and fissures in rock faces. Being a rather poor flier, with feeble wings, it was largely a ground feeder, bouncing down from a vantage point like a rock or low branch and catching its prey after some strides on its long legs. Rare already on North Island by 1850, but still frequently seen on South and Stewart Island in the 1880s. Soon thereafter it became extinct, probably due to the introduction of alien predators like weasels, stoats, and cats. Two subspecies are sometimes reported to exist, rufifacies on North Island and nominate albifacies on South and Stewart Islands, but the face shows marked individual variation in tinge, from largely grey-white over rufous with a white surround to largely rufous, a feature not uncommon in owls generally. No subspecies are recognized here. photo here ip30.eti.uva.nl/zma3d/detail.php?id=283&sort=taxon&type=all |
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Post by another specialist on Oct 25, 2005 7:39:58 GMT
Items in the ZMA - 1 bird: ZMA 1492 Male, Stewart I. (c. 47°S, 168°E), southern New Zealand, arrived alive on 6 Jul 1881 in the Amsterdam Zoo, bought from A.H. Jamrach (London) for £ 15,-, died 16 Jan 1882, mounted but retained in skin collection. Formerly, the ZMA had a 2nd bird, ZMA 1493, a male arrived with ZMA 1492 from Stewart I., died in the Amsterdam Zoo on 18 Jan 1886, mounted, but this bird was exchanged with Dr. Falla of the Dominion Museum in Wellington and thus returned to its country of origin.   ip30.eti.uva.nl/zma3d/detail.php?id=283&sort=taxon&type=all |
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Post by sebbe67 on Oct 26, 2005 5:03:14 GMT
The Laughing Owl (''Sceloglaux albifacies''), Whekau or White-faced Owl, was an endemic owl found in New Zealand, but is now probably extinct. It was plentiful when European settlers arrived in New Zealand in 1840. Specimens were sent to the British Museum where reports on them were published in 1845. By 1880, they were becoming rare, and the last recorded specimen was found dead at Blue Cliffs in Canterbury, New Zealand in 1914. There have been unconfirmed reports since then. In his book The Wandering Naturalist, Brian Parkinson describes reports of a Laughing Owl in the Pakahi near Opotiki in the 1940s. Laughing Owl egg fragments were apparently found in Canterbury in 1960. Extinction was caused by persecution, land use changes and the introduction of predators such as cats and stoats.
Description
The Laughing Owl's plumage was yellowish-brown striped with dark brown. There were White straps on the scapulars, and occasionally the hind neck. Mantle feathers were edged with white. The wings and tail had light brown bars. The tarsus had yellowish to reddish-buff feathers. The facial disc was White behind and below the eyes, fading to grey with brown stripes towards the centre. The eyes were dark orange. It's length was 35.5-40cm (14-15.7") and wing length 26.4cm (10.4").
Voice
The call of the Laughing Owl has been described as "a loud cry made up of a series of dismal shrieks frequently repeated". The Laughing Owl was given its name because of this sound. Other descriptions of the call were: "A peculiar barking noise ... just like the barking of a young dog"; "Precisely the same as two men "cooeying" to each Other from a distance"; "A melancholy hooting note". Others describe the call as a high-pitched chattering, only heard when the birds were on the wing and generally on dark and drizzly nights or immediately preceding rain. Various whistling, chuckling and mewing notes were observed from a captive bird.
Habitat and diet
The laughing Owl generally occupied rocky, low rainfall areas. It was also found in forest districts on the North Island. Their diet was catholic, taking a range of prey items, including beetles, lizards, small birds, and later on rats and mice. Laughing Owls were apparently ground feeders, chasing prey on foot. Knowledge on their diet, and how that diet changed over time, is preserved in fossil and sub-fossil deposits of their pellets. These pellets have been a boon to the paleobiological research of late New Zealand's Pleistocene and Holocene animal communities, creating concentrations of otherwise poorly preserved small bones. Its diet generally reflected the communities of small animals in the area, taking prions (small seabirds) where they lived near colonies, snipe, parakeets and even large earthworms. Once Pacific Rats were introduced to New Zealand and began to reduce the number of native prey items the Laughing Owl was able to switch eating them instead. They were still therefore relatively common when European settlers arrived, being large and aggressive they were able to deal with the introduced rats that had caused the extinction of so much of their prey, however the stoats introduced to control feral rabbits were too much for the species.
Breeding
Breeding began in September or October. The nests were lined with dried grass and were on bare ground, in rocky ledges, fissures or under boulders. Two white, roundish eggs were laid, measuring 44-51 x 38-43 mm (1.7-2" x 1.5-1.7"). Incubation took 25 days, with the male feeding the female on the nest.
Distribution
North Island: Specimens were collected from the forest districts of Mt Egmont (1856) and Wairarapa (1868). Sighted in Porirua and Te Karaka. According to Maori tradition, they also occurred in Urewera. South Island: Low rainfall districts - Nelson, Canterbury and Otago. Also central mountains and possibly Fiordland. Specimens were collected from Stewart Island in 1880.
Subspecies
Sceloglaux albifacies albifacies - South Island and Stewart Island. Sceloglaux albifacies rufifacies - North Island.
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Post by another specialist on Oct 26, 2005 20:01:00 GMT
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Post by sebbe67 on Nov 6, 2005 20:59:27 GMT
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Post by another specialist on Nov 7, 2005 7:27:32 GMT
 gap in nature |
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Post by sebbe67 on Dec 18, 2005 0:30:38 GMT
The name ' laughing owl' Sceloglaux albifacies ( Gray, 1844) was derived from the sound of birds calling each other. This species, which inhabited both North and South Island of New Zealand, was a specialized ground-hunter. It seems to have disappeared from North Island around 1890. The last reliable record from South Island was in July 1914, when a bird was found dead at Bluecliffs, South Canterbury.
Laughing owl
No rats
The cause of its extinction remains unclear. The disappearance of its favourite prey from the main islands, the 'native' Kiori rat Rattus exulans, is often implicated. However, this rodent was a relatively late immigrant to New Zealand. It could only have been on the laughing owl's menu since its introduction around 900 A.D., when it was introduced by Polynesian sailors. Before that time the owls must have lived on other species and it is not explained why the birds would not be able to return to their earlier diet. Hunting has not been an important factor, though the species regularly turned up in European natural history collections, both dead and alive. Presumably the same factors which threatened other New Zealand birds, such as deforestation, introduction of predators and diseases, have been fatal to the owl.
Laughing owl
Photograph by Rosamond Purcell from Swift as a Shadow. © 1999.
The museum collection
There are museum specimens in Edingburgh, Tring, Norwich, Bremen, Cambridge ( Massachusetts) and several New Zealand museums. The two birds in the National Museum of Natural History were, like most other skins, collected on South Island by Otto Finsch, who later became curator of birds in Leiden.
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Post by sebbe67 on Dec 18, 2005 0:30:58 GMT
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Post by another specialist on Dec 22, 2005 8:51:41 GMT
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Post by another specialist on Dec 22, 2005 17:46:55 GMT
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Post by another specialist on Mar 26, 2007 7:29:54 GMT
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Post by Carlos on Sept 7, 2007 18:06:15 GMT
South Island Laughing Owl Sceloglaux albifacies albifacies (Gray, 1844) RMNH 110.069: Wanaka Lake, South Island, New Zealand. Obtained through: Finsch, October 1886. RMNH 110.070: male. South Island, New Zealand, March 1876. Obtained through: Finsch, 1877. Laughing sound The Laughing Owl has its name from the sound it made when two birds were hailing each other. This species, which inhabited both North and South Island of New Zealand, was a specialized ground-hunter. It seems to have disappeared from North Island around 1890. The last reliable record from South Island was in July 1914, when a bird was found dead at Bluecliffs, South Canterbury. The cause of its extinction remains unclear. Often the disappearance of its favourite prey, the 'native' Kiori Rat, Rattus exulans, is seen as major cause of its decline. However, this rodent was a relatively late immigrant to New Zealand, which could only have been on the Laughing Owl's menu since its introduction around 900 A.D., when it was introduced by Polynesian sailors. Before that time the owls could do without, so it should have been relatively easy for the birds to return to their earlier diet. Hunting by man has not been an important factor, though the species regularly turned up in European natural history collections, both dead and alive. Presumably the same factors which threatened other New Zealand birds, such as deforestation, introduction of predators and diseases, have been fatal to the owl. Museum specimens There are museum specimens in Edingburgh, Tring, Norwich, Bremen, Cam¬bridge (Massachusetts) and several New Zealand museums. The two birds in Naturalis were, like most other skins, collected on South Island by Otto Finsch, who later became curator of birds in Leiden.  RMNH 110.069
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