Lord Howe boobook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lord Howe boobook |
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| Illustration by Henrik Grönvold | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Strigiformes |
| Family: | Strigidae |
| Genus: | Ninox |
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N. n. albaria
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| Trinomial name | |
| Ninox novaeseelandiae albaria (Ramsay, 1888)
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The Lord Howe boobook (Ninox novaeseelandiae albaria) was a special type of owl. It was also known as the Lord Howe morepork. This bird lived only on Lord Howe Island. This island is in the Tasman Sea, near New South Wales, Australia. Sadly, this owl is now extinct. It was a unique kind of morepork owl.
What the Lord Howe Boobook Looked Like
The Lord Howe boobook looked a lot like other morepork owls. It was a small, brown owl. Its feathers had white spots, making it look lighter than other owls. Scientists studied old owl specimens. They found this owl was smaller than most Australian boobooks. But it was bigger than the morepork owls from New Zealand and Norfolk Island.
Where the Lord Howe Boobook Lived
The Lord Howe boobook lived only on Lord Howe Island. It made its home in the island's natural forests. These owls were also seen living near human settlements on the island.
Why the Lord Howe Boobook Disappeared
It is not clear exactly when the Lord Howe boobook became extinct. People on the island heard owl calls until the 1950s. However, during the 1920s, other owls were brought to the island. These included boobooks from Australia, barn owls, and masked owls. They were brought in to try and control black rats. The rats had accidentally arrived in June 1918. This happened when a ship called the SS Makambo got stuck near the island.
Many of Lord Howe Island's unique birds disappeared after the rats arrived. The Lord Howe boobook may have died out because of the rats. It might also have been affected by the new owls. These new owls could have hunted the native boobooks. Or they might have competed for food and places to live. The owl calls heard until the 1950s could have been from the native boobooks. Or they might have been from the owls that were brought to the island. It is even possible they were from both.
Some specimens of the Lord Howe boobook are kept in the Australian Museum today.
