on 19-01-2013 07:58 PM
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).
on 18-09-2013 08:55 AM
Good morning Monsters and everyone here.
It's so good to see you back posting .. yaaaay!! .......
Squirrel is absolutely a most handsome little dog and later in the day, I'll make a nice frame for him xxx
Screech is a most wonderful success story indeed. His story and your wonderful care/rehabilitation of him (and the other animals) is well known all around xxxx
The world is a better place with you in it lovely lady ....
on 18-09-2013 04:54 PM
on 18-09-2013 11:01 PM
Hi Screechers
I'm still floating around, but have been busy the last couple of days doing hubby's tax return - yuck!
Will be back later in the week with a few photos of our new babies - two little poddy calves, very cute.
Thanks Richo for keeping us bumped!
And to the most lovely Tas, Squirrel says big squishy hugs and licky licks for his lovely photo frame! He is the cutest little thing and has settled in like he's always lived here.
on 19-09-2013 04:38 AM
Squirrel is the cutest...and his name suits him down to the ground. I am very glad your littlie has another companion of a similar size.
24-09-2013 04:36 PM - edited 24-09-2013 04:37 PM
on 24-09-2013 07:20 PM
on 25-09-2013 10:16 AM
on 04-10-2013 04:19 PM
on 25-10-2013 05:56 PM
Still waiting for more pics and stories from the farm.
Tas will be -on your case soon.......................................Richo.