Testing the effectiveness of actions to mitigate the impact of forest practices on the Tasmanian masked owl – Subproject 2
Highlights
- Flexible habitat use supports coexistence with forestry
Tasmanian masked owls showed no single, consistent habitat preference during nighttime activity or daytime roosting, indicating adaptability to landscapes that include well managed production forests.
- Large, mature trees are critical for breeding
All confirmed nests were found in tree hollows, reinforcing the essential role of retaining hollow bearing, mature trees across forested landscapes.
- Current forest management approaches are broadly validated
Findings align with existing practices focused on retaining mature forest features, suggesting these approaches are appropriate for supporting masked owl conservation.
- Evidence base strengthened, with clear priorities for future research
While sample sizes were small, the study adds practical data on roosting and nesting characteristics and highlights the need for expanded research to refine operational guidance.
Purpose of the research
FWPA commissioned this research to improve understanding of how the Tasmanian masked owl, a threatened species, uses its environment in landscapes that include production forestry. The objective was to identify the types of areas owls use when they are active at night, roosting during the day, and nesting, so that current forest management approaches can continue to be informed by the best available science. The work forms part of a broader FWPA program examining how existing management practices perform for threatened species.
How the study was done
Six adult masked owls were fitted with GPS transmitters in eastern Tasmania, with usable movement data obtained from four individuals. Owl locations were compared with nearby “available” habitat to understand patterns of use. Nest records from this study and earlier research were also analysed to look for common characteristics of nesting locations. The study was deliberately cautious in its approach due to small sample sizes.
Key findings
- No single habitat type was consistently selected by all owls during active nighttime periods or while roosting. Individual owls showed different preferences, suggesting flexibility in how the species uses the landscape.
- Roosting sites were found in both tree hollows and dense vegetation, indicating that owls can use a range of structures for daytime shelter.
- All confirmed nesting occurred in tree hollows, reinforcing the importance of large, mature trees for breeding.
- Nest sites were more likely to occur in areas with lower solar radiation, although the ecological significance of this result remains uncertain and requires further investigation.
Benefits to the forestry industry
The findings are consistent with current forest management approaches that focus on retaining mature forest features, particularly hollow bearing trees, across the landscape. The absence of strong, uniform habitat preferences during active periods suggests that well managed production forests can continue to coexist with masked owl habitat needs. The research also adds practical data on tree hollows used by owls, helping to strengthen future guidance for on ground identification and retention.
Future research and next steps
The study highlights the need for larger sample sizes, particularly for nesting sites, to strengthen confidence in results. Further work is recommended to better understand the specific characteristics of tree hollows used for nesting and roosting, as well as how these features can be identified and retained at an operational scale. FWPA will continue to support collaborative research that builds on this work and improves the evidence base for sustainable forest management.
