Look Wut I Got! (Scroller and Photo)

[monstersinthedungeon]

This is Screech.

For the last couple of months we've had a very diligent Tawny Frogmouth pair sitting on their nest close to the house.  We've watched with anticipation and were finally rewarded by seeing a little bundle of fluff popping his head out of the nest.

Then last weekend - DRAMA - I walked outside to see a massive monitor making his way towards the Tawny tree.  Screamed at hubby to come and help, we tried to avert disaster, but the monitor was way too fast for us and scaled the tree.  

Mumma Tawny was very panicked, as the monitor came closer to the nest she flew off into a nearby tree.  She gave me a look of absolute desperation HELP ME! (yes, she did!) but the nest/monitor were way too high for us to do anything.  Hubby tried to throw things at the monitor, but I stopped him as the monitor's life is no less precious than the chicks - I didn't want to see the monitor get toppled out of the tree and hurt or killed.  Plus hubby damn near hit my car with a rock. ;\

I put some eggs around the base of the tree so the monitor could see them, in a vain attempt to lure him away from the chick.  We had to go out briefly, so wished the Tawnys good luck.  Alas, when we came back, the nest was empty :_|

Went about our afternoon chores when suddenly I spotted baby Tawny!  Sitting on the ground next to the tractor.  We dropped everything, made him a makeshift nest and put it up in the tree, then caught him and put him in the nest.  We saw Mumma and Pappa Tawny watching nearby.

Cut down a long story, Bubba kept jumping out of his nest over the next three days and Mumma and Pappa abandoned him, so the decision was made to bring him inside to keep him safe from both the monitors and our dogs. (our four young ones would kill him). 

He will be released as soon as he can fly properly and learn to catch his own bugs (I am catching them for him at the moment).  He's all puffed up and hating me in the photo, that's a good thing, we don't want him imprinting on us. He's feeding really well though (I hate you, I hate you, yum, yum, more please, I still hate you). 

[monstersinthedungeon]

That's so good to hear Maine, I have noticed that Tango is drinking a LOT of water lately - may be the medication, but could quite possibly be his kidneys - he's been on meds of one kind or another for 6.5 years.

We're just grateful for this extra time, as long or as short as it may be. I think, having come so very, very close, we actually more prepared now for what is obviously an unavoidable eventuality - although we knew before that it was something that would be coming soon, we were unprepared for quite how soon. Although it will still be incredibly difficult, we accept that in all likelihood, we don't have a lot of time left with him.

He's got his full appetite back, and is taking gentle strolls around the property, asked to come out in the car tonight, and enjoyed his trip. But he's still weak in the hindquarters and I have to balance that with quality of life. It's just such an incredibly hard decision to make, on one hand you don't want to cut their life short unnecessarily, but on the other, I am so anxious to make sure that he's not in pain and still enjoying life, albeit gently.

Icy, it is awful that our critters don't live as long as we do, except some big parrots and tortoises - but then I would be so worried about what would happen to them when I died, with no one to pass them on to.

Really not sure if Screech is a boy or girl (they're very difficult to sex), I may never know, because apparently male Tawnys make excellent "mothers" too - they do their fair share of sitting on the nest as well. I really don't think this bird is going anywhere fast - still living on the trellis next to the house - hopefully he will find a mate come breeding season (August - December) and spread his wings a little bit. On the other hand, I love being able to see him all day, every day, and know that he is doing okay. It will be so interesting if and when he finally "hooks up" and has a family, as to whether he still wants to know his "Mummy"!

[lyndal1838]

Monsters, is Tango on Prednisolone tablets or anything containing Prednisolone?  It is used as an anti inflamatory so often given for arthritic conditions.

Not only is it known for making animals thirsty, but it can easily have an effect on the kidneys.  Most Vets try to avoid it for long term use unless there is no alternative....my little boy was on it regularly for a skin complaint but it was always a case of use it to get the outbreak under control then wean him off it till the next time.

When he was diagnosed with cancer the Vet said to keep him on it permanently and to heck with any side effects...the cancer would take him before the effects of the Pred. were seen.  He lasted 11 months with a very good quality of life.

[the_great_she_elephant]

Are tawnies territorial, Monsters? If so he make your property 'his' territory,and  find a mate and raise his family there.

[serendipityricho]

The difference between the -terror in the eye from the OP,

and the pic at post 83 said it all....................Richo. 

[monstersinthedungeon]

Lyndal, he's currently on Mobic (anti-inflammatory) and Tramadol (painkiller for med-severe pain), both of which are human meds. I don't think there's any Prednisolone in either of them, but he's only recently gone on the Tramadol (when he took his bad turn), so there may be something in that med that's making him thirsty. Or, of course, it may just be his kidneys giving up 😞

Anyway, Tango's had a good day again today, great appetite, wanting to go outside on quite a few occasions and, best of all, wanted to play with his ball tonight. His ball is his most favourite thing in the world, but I haven't been running him due to his hips and of course the last week he's not be interested in anything. But he really begged to go and play tonight, so I gave him just five very gentle short runs, and he really enjoyed himself - doesn't seem to have had any affect on his hips afterwards, so that is great.

She-ele, yes, Tawnys are territorial, and are solitary birds unless they find a mate, so I would say he'll have a go at making our property his - only problem will be if his parents are still hanging around. I haven't seen them, but it's more than possible they're still around as their nest (that Screech came out of) was very close to the house. They may not like him in "their" territory, but I haven't seen them around, so they may well have moved on, especially after the bad incident with the monitor.

Richo, I had to go back and look, yes, there's a huge difference there, he has certainly grown to trust me, I just hope not too much (i.e., too tame). He is still following me around the property, which is a concern, especially when he perches down low, but am hoping that when he finds a girlfriend he won't want my company any more.

[tasfleur]

Don't worry about Screech following you around Monsters, it's all a very natural thing to him now and don't forget, either way because of you, he's free, he's absolutely free ...  :-x

[monstersinthedungeon]

I'm only worried about him following me around, Tas, because our young dogs are very prey-orientated and, whilst we're working hard at trying to train them out of it, they are poultry killers 😞 

I'm terrified that they'll catch Screech off-guard when he's down low, and kill him.  I go out in the morning before I let the dogs outside and make sure he's up high, and put them in well before his dinner time, but already on a couple of occasions there's been close calls and it's only been good luck that I've spotted him before the dogs have, and managed to get the dogs inside and then put Screech up high.  I refuse to feed him down low, trying to teach him that he only gets fed up on his high trellis, so not to bother flying down to me. But it's a very real worry.

[tasfleur]

I can understand that Monsters, it must be a little frightening sometimes.  You can only do what you can though and no matter what, he's got a better chance that he had to start with thanks to you.

[serendipityricho]

Latest update please......................Richo.

[1966kelso]

*sits patiently with Richo*