The Half Hour Hoot on Triple H 100.1 FM

13/08/2024

WOO HOO! It's been a busy week at the office for 'Budawa' the preserved Powerful Owl! Today, the band was back together for a 'Secret Life of Powerful Owls' presentation to over 150 members of the Oakhill Dural Combined Probus Club at Cherrybook Uniting Church Hall. We shared three important messages - preserving habitat, not using toxic rat poison, and driving safely between dusk and dawn. Our fundraising total for a range of wildlife organisations now stands at $12,997! Thank you Michael Bianchino and Liz Fountain Pash 🦉❤🌳

13/08/2024

Thanks to Cherrybrook Probus

The Secret Life of Powerful Owls - Cherrybrook Presentation 13 Aug 2024 - Full House; the word is out, Powerful Owls matter, Trees are habitat, Rodenticide kills native fauna and pets
If you ever come across a deceased powerful owl please inform this page

Send a message to learn more

11/08/2024

WOO HOO! I had a hoot at ‘Science in the Scrub’ at Lizard Log today with the Sydney Wildlife Rescue SouthWest branch legends. There were thousands of families who enjoyed getting up close with ‘Budawa’ the preserved Powerful Owl and hearing her story. I hope they went home with a greater appreciation for this threatened species and our native wildlife, including driving safely (particularly between dusk and dawn when they're out hunting), not using toxic rat poison (second generation anticoagulant rodenticide SGARs 'cause they kill more than rats & mice) and planting native trees for habitat and food. xoxo Mikey 🦉❤️🌳

07/08/2024

WOO HOO! I’m looking forward to being part of the Sydney Wildlife Rescue SouthWest branch stall for ‘Science in the Scrub’ at Lizard Log, Western Sydney Parklands on Sunday 11 August 2024 from 11am to 3pm.
This is a free family fun day for National Science Week with live science shows, hands-on experiments, native animals, over 30 stalls to explore and even a life-sized roaming dinosaur.
The Sydney Wildlife Rescue stall will have an educational display where you can learn about our amazing wildlife as well as a lolly jar guessing competition and a raffle with major prizes, so you can support the awesome SouthWest branch volunteers.
And you can meet ‘Budawa’ the preserved Powerful Owl specimen and learn about this majestic threatened apex predator – Australia’s largest owl with a wingspan up to 140cm.
Catch you there - IT WILL BE A HOOT! 🦉❤🌳
https://www.greatersydneyparklands.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/national-science-week-2024

02/08/2024

WOO HOO! The Powerful Owl is BirdLife Australia's bird of the month for August - check out five fun facts here and how you can help the threatened species. 🦉❤️🌳

August's bird of the month is the Powerful Owl! Here are 5 things you may or may not know about Australia's largest owl species.

26/07/2024

Hornsby Shire Council Ad / Promo Saving Blue Gum High Forrest (Pewter the POWERFUL OWL) makes a cameo around 50secs where he winks - ‘high forest, bye forest' it's a timely POWERFUL AD ends with a positive - visit love protect. Let’s hope all residents and the powers to be in all councils follow the message of this video.

02/07/2024

WOO HOO! Are you looking for something fun, free and educational to do on a rainy day over the school holidays? Well, WILD AT ART is back in 2024!
The competition is open to children aged 5-12 to do an original painting or drawing of a threatened species and write an explanation about why they chose that particular species. It’s as simple as research, create, reflect and send.
It would be a real hoot to see some Powerful Owl artworks submitted this year, ‘cause sadly, they're a threatened species. You’ll find plenty of images and information about the threats to Powerful Owls on this page https://www.facebook.com/mikeythepowerfulowlet and the following link https://birdlife.org.au/projects/powerful-owl-project/
Parents, guardians and teachers can enter children's work through the ACF Wild at Art portal and more details are available on https://www.acf.org.au/wild-at-art-competition Entries close on 12 August, so get to it – fame, fortune and some fabulous prizes await the winners. xoxo Mikey 🦉❤️🌳🎨

02/03/2024

WOO HOO! Don't forget to check out the community day at Hazlewood Rose Park tomorrow Sunday 3 March 2024 from 9am to 4pm for Clean Up Australia Day. We'll be on Marquee 6, fundraising for BirdLife Australia's Powerful Owl Project and Sydney Wildlife Rescue - should be a hoot! xoxo Mikey

18/02/2024

WOO HOO – The Secret Life of Powerful Owls is excited to be participating in the Ray Park Heritage Group’s community event on Clean Up Australia Day – Sunday 3 March from 9am to 4pm at Hazlewood Rose Park organised by the legendary Dorothy Doolan. It will be a hoot with lots of cool stuff to check out including Michael on guitar/vocals from 10am to 2pm and a meet and greet with ‘Budawa’ the preserved Powerful Owl as we continue to fundraise for Sydney Wildlife Rescue and BirdLife Australia’s Powerful Owl Project. Catch you there! xoxo Mikey the Powerful Owlet 🦉❤🌳🎼♻

09/02/2024

WOO HOO! We kicked off 2024 with our first ‘Secret Life of Powerful Owls’ presentation for over 70 members and guests of Beecroft Combined Probus Club today at St John's Church Hall Beecroft. It was a hoot with our preserved Powerful Owl specimen 'Budawa' the star of the show. We fundraised $120, split between Sydney Wildlife Rescue Northern District Branch and BirdLife Australia’s Powerful Owl Project, taking our total fundraising for wildlife charities to $12,843. It was also the first live performance of Michael Bianchino's new Song for Bethany 'Shimmering White Feathers'. xoxo Mikey 🦉 ❤💸

01/02/2024

WOO HOO! It’s our first ‘Secret Life of Powerful Owls’ presentation for 2024, so please join the friendly folk at the new Beecroft Combined Probus Club next Friday 9 February 2024 from 11am at St John’s Church Hall Beecroft where all will be revealed about our majestic local apex predator recently recognised as the avian emblem of Hornsby Shire. Catch you there - it will be a hoot! xoxo Mikey 🦉❤🌳

24/01/2024

Woo Hoo - Wonderful to see the threatened Powerful Owl recognised as the avian emblem of Hornsby Shire - what a hoot! 🦉❤️🌳

29/12/2023

Happy new year to all

24/12/2023

🎅🎄🎁 WOO HOO - THAT’S A WRAP! Thanks so much for your support of our ‘Secret Life of Powerful Owls’ 2024 calendar. It was so popular we had to do a short reprint. So far, we’ve fundraised $1077.20, split between Sydney Wildlife Rescue Northern District and BirdLife Australia’s Powerful Owl Project – what a hoot! A huge shout out to Emma and her staff (Emily, Lisa and Olga) at her Beautiful Things store in the Beecroft Village Arcade for retailing the calendars for us; to everyone who purchased; and of course to Michael Bianchino for his amazing photos which made the project possible. Best wishes to everyone involved for a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Safe Travels. xoxo Mikey the Powerful Owlet (aka Georgia) 😃🦉🙏PS – There are only 14 of these collectors items left, so if you want to get your claws on a copy, please message me.

23/12/2023

Merry Christmas to all, from our wonderful Powerful Owls in Byles Creek Valley and beyond

08/12/2023

☀️HOT WEATHER WARNING - Please help our native wildlife survive the heat today - some advice below from Sydney Wildlife Rescue 🙏

It's going to be a scorcher! What can we do to help our wildlife when the temperature goes through the roof:

WATER! WATER! WATER!
Put a few bowls of water somewhere in the shade. The water doesn't have to be deep, and should have a branch or a rock in it to enable small animals/lizards/birds with something to use to climb out, or to sit on.

LOOK AROUND!
You might notice nocturnal animals out during the day, looking for a shady spot, or birds panting on the ground. Some of them might look for a cool environment, e.g., in your garage or under your garden furniture. If they're safe and don't appear injured, let them stay there until the temperature drops. Try to get a bowl of water close to them without alarming them.

PLAY IT SAFE!
Don't think that a heat stressed animal can't hurt you. Please don't approach a macropod, snake or a flying fox. Call Sydney Wildlife Rescue on 9413 4300. If you have a gentle spray garden sprinkler, put it on for a short time but never spray it towards an animal - this will add to their stress. If they want to get closer to it, they will.

DID WE MENTION WATER?
Putting out a few bowls of water, and keeping them cool and topped up during a hot day, is the most effective thing we can do. This simple act could save lives.

Thank you for thinking of our precious wildlife. If you would like to donate or get involved, please visit https://www.sydneywildlife.org.au/ for more information.

Thank you to Margaret Woods - one of our amazing members for this fantastic photograph of a Laughing Kookaburra enjoying some water.

05/12/2023

🎅🎄🎁 WOO HOO! Michael, Georgia & Liz will be busking in Hannah Street at Beecroft Village on Saturday 9 December 2023 from around 10am to 12pm to spread some Christmas cheer and fundraise for Sydney Wildlife Rescue and BirdLife Australia’s Powerful Owl Project. 🎼🎤🎸 We’re also introducing our new band member ‘Budawa’ the preserved Powerful Owl specimen, so please come along and say hello. 🦉🗓💸 Our limited edition ‘Secret Life of Powerful Owls’ 2024 calendar will also be on display and available from Emma at Beautiful Things in the arcade for $20 with all profits to these wonderful wildlife organisations. Be quick though as they’ll fly off the shelves. Catch you there - it’ll be a hoot! xoxo Mikey 🙏😀❤

09/10/2023

WOO HOO! Our ‘Secret Life of Powerful Owls’ 2024 fundraising calendar has landed! If you pre-ordered, they are available for collection with Emma Heyde at her lovely store ‘Beautiful Things By…’ at Shop 2, Beecroft Village Arcade, 6-8 Hannah Street, Beecroft for $20 (inc GST). All profits will be split between Sydney Wildlife Rescue Northern District Branch and BirdLife Australia’s Powerful Owl Project. We’ve ordered an extra 30 calendars which would make a great Secret Santa or Stocking Stuffer, but they’ll fly off the shelves – so be quick! 🙏Thanks for your support of these two wonderful wildlife organisations and threatened species this Festive Season. And a BIG THANK YOU to Emma for retailing them at her gorgeous shop. We’ll update you on how much was raised soon. xoxo Mikey the Powerful Owlet

04/10/2023

The Powerful Owl needs you vote now,, tomorrow will be too late
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2023/sep/25/australian-bird-of-the-year-2023-vote-the-guardian-bird-life-australia-poll?fbclid=IwAR396X7HP0RcqMuSEjkw3cXb2YpZ8DbTTx2lfyVvzm_AVhzreJuu5TaMhQk

It’s time to get behind your favourite – from little penguins to (very big) cassowaries, every bird has its fans. Vote early and vote often (within the rules) in the 2023 Guardian/BirdLife Australia poll

28/09/2023

WOO HOO! We had a hoot at All Saints Church North Epping today. They generously fundraised $108.90 which we have rounded up to $110 and split between BirdLife Australia's Powerful Owl Project ($55) and Sydney Wildlife Rescue Northern District Branch ($55). That takes our fundraising total to $11,344 for a range of wildlife charities. Stay tuned for future events, or get in touch if you'd like to see our 'Secret Life of Powerful Owls' presentation at your local community event. 🙏🦉❤🌳

20/09/2023

🎸🎤📷 WOO HOO! Are you looking for an entertaining and educational event for the family these school holidays? Then we’d love you to come along to our ‘Secret Life of Powerful Owls’ presentation at All Saints Church North Epping on Thursday 28 September from 10.30am. This is a free event, however we would appreciate a gold coin contribution to support Sydney Wildlife Rescue and BirdLife Australia’s Powerful Owl Project. It will be a real hoot – catch you there! 🦉❤🌳

21/08/2023

Presenting The Secret Life of Powerful Owls - Hotel Pennant Hills 21 August 2023

14/08/2023

WOO HOO! We can’t wait to fly into Pennant Hills Hotel on Monday 21 August to present the ‘Secret Life of Powerful Owls’ to Pennant Hills Combined Probus Club with our mascot ‘Budawa’. Send us hoot if you’d like to join us and become a member of this friendly local community group – limited space available. 🦉❤🌳🎼🎙😀

23/07/2023

The Ho***rs out and about
"The Secret Life of Powerful Owls" presentation/performance at Brooklyn today - also Powerful Owl Project and Sydney Wildlife (rescue) presentations- Sunday 23 July 2023

22/07/2023

The ‘Secret Life of Powerful Owls’ presentation for the wildlife-loving river communities of Brooklyn, Dangar Island and Mooney Mooney Sunday 23 July 10:30am - yep tomorrow - if you are in the area, or happen to be in the area come along - Brooklyn Meeting Room, 2-4 Dangar Road Brooklyn

03/07/2023

Great News - confirmation Sheba is in the hollow - very late in the season. Most likely gone in the hollow between 26 June to 2 July. habitat in Sydney remnant bushland needs protecting - more Nimbys and less development
The bad news, the Whale Rock Powerful Owl family has disappeared ( personally devastating for me, after monitoring them for 10 years), we suspect Betty the matriarch was killed by car strike along Beecroft Road last November - a bitter sweet post - slow down at night driving along our local streets, especially Beecroft Road near the M2 exit - watch out for wildlife - Owls used the flat surface of roads while hunting for food.

03/07/2023

Georgia and I are back - Brooklyn / Dangar Island 'Secret Life of Powerful Owls' presentation Sunday 23 July 10:30am - nearly a full house, if you are in the area you are most welcome

25/06/2023

Unboxing Budawa - amazing job Steve and Bob - bitter sweet occasion. After losing a precious female powerful owl last year, following the autopsy, Georgia was given the go-ahead to have the Powerful Owl preserved by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment - Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 - license No: MWL000103695. Budawa will become part of our Powerful owl presentation (The Secret life of Powerful Owls)

25/06/2023

Out at Powerful Owl Project headquarters - after an unfortunate incident losing a local Powerful Owl to car strike last year Georgia Cameron was given the ok by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (licence no: MWL000103695) to have the owl preserved for educational purpose (it goes without saying we would prefer to have a live healthy owl than a stuffed owl) - So we dropped off Poppy the Powerful Owl and pickup Budawa the Powerful Owl - Steve did a great job on the preservation of the owl and Bob on the construction of the box - Steve is a male Peggy McDonald, he spent decades in Canada rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing raptors and other birds back into the wild - without a doubt an excellent morning - these are the rewards, meeting carers like Steve -
we would also like to thank Stephanie Davison who informed us of the decease owl on Beecroft road so we could retrieve the beautiful bird and have it examined

18/06/2023