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). 

[tasfleur]

He looks like a little old wise man, the eyes of an ancient prophet ...  :-x

[debra9275]

Just checking in to see how you're doing Monsters  :-x

Screech is gorgeous, it looks like you have an new lifelong friend there. he loves & trusts you, but it looks like he's not too sure about the camera  . that's kind of a quizzical look isn't it?  :^O

He is so very cute  :-x

[tasfleur]

Debra ...  :^O, yes, kind of an expression of "do you mind" isn't it, while at the same time allowing it!

I love his 'coat' and 'beard'.

[monstersinthedungeon]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for your condolences, Ms. Mioux and Freddie :-x

Debra, I'm doing fine, thanks, will take a few days to get my equilibrium back up to speed, I think.

Yes, Screech sure is a character, but I do despair that I will be feeding him for the rest of his/my life. But no, of course I can't resist! 

He is funny with the camera, it is white, just like the little dishes I take his food out to him in (he's hand fed, but part of his meal is a meat/egg/insectivore powder mix and I carry it out in a little white ramekin), so I think he thought he was getting an early pre-dinner snack and was a bit put out when nothing eventuated - although as soon as the photo session was over, I did go back out and feed him.

[tasfleur]

Monsters, don't despair about having to feed Screech, all he's doing really is being around you at this sad time and he can feed himself if he had to .. you are part of his family and it's so good for you both  ..  :-x

[monstersinthedungeon]

Tas, I do feel blessed to have him around, and would be happy to feed him for the rest of his time, but just worry that it keeps him from leading a truly free life and that I've made him too tame. The good thing is that it does appear to be only me that he trusts - when hubby gets too close he flies away. Thank you for your lovely piccies.

[tasfleur]

:-x ... he's free Monsters, truly he is xx

[cat_mioux]

Oh Screechy boy you are the cutest Tawny I've ever seen. Thank you Monsters for introducing me to, and instilling a fondness, for Tawny's. :-x

Lots of hugs to you Monsters. Animal appreciators and carers make me believe the world is good.

[monstersinthedungeon]

You're right of course, Tas. That was brought home to me tonight when he flew down into the chook pen to say hello as I was locking all the chook houses. I went offer and had a little conversation with him, obviously I was a bit boring as after a few minutes he turned his back on me and flew away :^O

Ms. Mioux, I like to believe the world is good at its core and we are all the richer for the amazing critters, both domestic and wild, that share it with us. I stop and think, sometimes, as I cuddle a dog or pat a cat, how absolutely amazing it is, and how very lucky we are, that animals choose to share our lives.

[j*oono]

Photo of Screech, today, sitting on the fence (naughty boy!) waiting for his dinner:

He is so beautiful!  I love your little chicken house too.  

Screech knows a good thing when he sees it 😄  He is a gift to you at this time Monsters.