At SHAPES IN THE SAND, we are proud of our long standing partnership with the Powerful Owl Project, a conservation initiative dedicated to protecting Australia’s largest owl. This cause holds a special place in our founder Alex’s heart, and through our ongoing collaboration, we have been able to contribute to the preservation of this iconic and endangered species.
When you purchase from our Neverland Collection, you are helping us give back. For every piece sold, $5 is donated directly to the Powerful Owl Project to support vital research and habitat protection efforts. Together, we can help ensure the Powerful Owl thrives for generations to come.
About
The Powerful Owl Project is part of BirdLife Australia’s Urban Bird Program, working to monitor and protect urban Powerful Owls. In Greater Sydney, the team tracks more than 428 individual adult owls, recording the locations of their nesting and roosting trees, monitoring breeding activity, and documenting their diet.
This important work is made possible thanks to a dedicated network of citizen scientists. Volunteers of all ages are trained and supported to collect vital ecological data. Since 2011, the project has grown from 40 known owl territories to 214, thanks to the incredible effort of volunteers — increasing from 40 to more than 600 in just nine years.
By providing expert advice to local councils and land managers, the Powerful Owl Project helps protect this remarkable species and safeguard its habitat for the future.
Photo credit: Cathy Cook
2024 November Update
Powerful Owl fledglings should have all emerged from their hollows now. It is a challenging time for newly emerged young, so if you find a Powerful Owl fledgling (or any Powerful Owl) on the ground, please do not attempt to rescue it yourself (they have sharp talons), instead, please contact WIRES (1300 094 737) or Sydney Wildlife Rescue (9413 4300) immediately and then can send out a trained handler to help the bird. There have been quite a few come into care already this season.
By Dr Holly Parsons - BirdLife Australia
The Powerful Owl
The Powerful Owl is Australia’s largest owl and one of our most formidable nocturnal predators. While they have the strength to take down a possum in a single grip, they cannot withstand the rapid loss of their habitat. The catastrophic bushfires along the east coast destroyed more than 30% of their habitat, leaving this species under serious threat.
Urban areas may offer a lifeline. Powerful Owls can adapt to city life and, in some cases, even breed in suburban backyards. The Greater Sydney region has the highest known density of Powerful Owls in the country, with around 10% of the estimated 8,000 strong NSW population living there.
However, city life comes with challenges. Ongoing urban development removes the old, hollow bearing trees they need for nesting. These limited hollows are fiercely contested by other wildlife. Additional threats include car strikes, which kill 10–13% of Powerful Owls annually, rodenticide poisoning, and inappropriate night lighting.
Photo credit: Dave Robson
