It was a case of all hands on deck when our resident Bush Stone - Curlews screeched loudly late at night . Rushing outside to find the cause of the uproar , the adult Curlews , puffed up , wings fully extended, were seen looking up at the rotary clothesline . Perched atop was a Barking Owl , known as the Murderbird and the Screaming-woman Bird .
After frightening the owl off by yelling, clapping hands and barking like a guard dog , a quick check was made to find the two Curlew chicks , which owls eat . With the aid of a powerful torch, they were found hiding, safe and sound . They are shown below at the backdoor wanting breakfast
With one or more owls about , what could be done to try and protect the young birds the remainder of the long night?
Hanging on the back veranda , in a vain bid to frighten away Cockatoos which had stripped the mandarin tree in the past , was a worn wetsuit used for swimming, diving on the reef .
It was hastily attached, above, to the clothesline, the arms spread out in scarecrow fashion . A Mopoke was heard calling in the distance . There were no further sightings or blood- curdling screams of the owl that night .
The Curlews screeched loudly , causing a tumble out of bed . No Owl could be seen near the clothesline .Then Wuk-wuk, its distinctive call was heard , several times . It seemed like an age before the dreaded bird could be located with the aid of the torch.
It was at the top of a high neighbouring tree. Flicking the beam about and making pistol shot sounds by clapping hands sent it flying.
Sat in the darkness for half an hour , but there was no sign of it returning to what could have been the scene of a crime .
