Masked Owl - Nswfmpa.org

10 Breeding10.1 Mating SystemMasked owls form monogamous pairs and usually mate for life.10.2 Ease of BreedingMasked Owl is fairly easy to breed in captivity provided you have a suitable pair.Featherdale is quiet successful at breeding Masked Owls, keepers do not provideanything other than nesting hollows to encourage the owls to breed. (Harris E)Minimal disturbance when owls are nesting is probably one contributing factor tosuccessful breeding.10.3 Reproductive Condition10.3.1 Females• Body length 400-500mm.• Head bobbing and wing waving towards male.• Vocalise in response to male’s vocalisation.• When incubating eggs the female forms a brood patch on her abdomen area10.3.2 Males• 350-400mm in body length.• Head bobbing and wing waving towards female.• Male leads female in vocalisation, around the nest hollow.10.4 Techniques Used to Control BreedingAt Featherdale Wildlife Park keepers do not stop Masked Owls from breeding. But ifbreeding was not necessary the following could be used to control breeding• house sexes separately• remove nesting logs and nesting materials• remove clutch of eggs and replace with fake eggs to prevent more eggs being laid10.5 Occurrence of HybridsMasked Owls could possibly breed with the sub species Tasmanian Masked Owl tyto n.castenops.41