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 16-04-2013 02:39 PM
Monsters, I am so very sorry that you have lost another loved dog, that is incredibly sad just after losing Tango .... :_|
What a gorgeous dog he was, can see the personality and lovely character in his eyes.
It must have been an awful shock, but I'm so glad he was there with you and everything he knew that made life so wonderful for him, never forget that Monsters ... :-x
on 16-04-2013 04:29 PM
Couldn't agree more with Tas, Monsters. You give your best for your animal companions to have a fulfilling life. They couldn't want for anything more. However long or short their lives, if they could communicate to you from beyond, it would be to say that they found safety and joy in your presence and want you to remember them with that same joy.
on 16-04-2013 05:31 PM
Cat, Joono, Debra, Tas, Sprinkles :-x
Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful posts.
Spuddy was a gorgeous dog. Despite his somewhat 'bruiser" looks, he was a real sweetie. He just loved people and wanted to say hello to everyone. I miss him and Tango dreadfully. I thought the house was empty without Tango, but with both of them gone it's just awful.
on 17-04-2013 05:59 PM
Condolences, I hope you still Charlie, and there are many puppies looking new homes.
Get a new puppy soon, every one re-homed is a life saved.
on 17-04-2013 07:43 PM
Yes, I agree with Flannie, as soon as you feel ready, you'll find there is yet another opportunity to rescue/save another animal, you'll see Monsters .... you will be drawn to it ... :-x
on 17-04-2013 09:22 PM
Hi Annie, Tas :-x
Yes, Charlie is still with us, he is only 8.5 years old, he is a cattle dog cross, quite a small dog, so should be with us for a good few years yet. Poor thing, he is a bit lost at the moment, Tango was his buddy and he had become quite close to Spud after Tango passed. He is getting lots of extra cuddles and attention at the moment.
I will get another rescue pup, but not ready just yet. I did start looking, but realised that I was looking for a clone of Spuddy because I so desperately want Spud back. Of course just because he looks like Spuddy doesn't mean he will be like Spuddy. 😞
Funnily enough I'm not looking for German Shepherds, I think because, although I miss Tango very badly, I am more at peace with Tango's passing, because he had had a good full life and the end was expected. But Spud's life was just beginning and I am missing him so desperately. I want another German Shepherd eventually, but that will be a long time away, because Tango was such a special dog his paws will be very hard to fill.
on 18-04-2013 10:35 AM
It takes time monsters, adopting another homeless puppy when you 're ready is a good idea
on 18-04-2013 11:08 AM
Totally agree with you Debra .. I believe it will happen at the right time and the right place, just when needed xx
on 18-04-2013 07:48 PM
Debra, Tas :-x
I know there will be another pup in the not too distant future, just not right now.
I got Spuddy's ashes back today, it's so awful it makes it so final somehow. So silly, because of course I know he's gone, but getting his ashes back just makes it so real.
on 20-04-2013 10:39 AM
Something very special happened yesterday morning.
I had just fed Screech and had him on my hand, getting ready for him to fly back up into his tree for the day (I carry him on my hand from the fence up towards his tree, so he goes up to safety for the day).
Instead of looking up at the tree preparing for flight as he usually does, he turned around to face me and leaned right over as though trying to get closer to look at something on my shirt.I brought my arm in towards my body so he could get closer and I could find out what he was looking at, he then climbed up onto my chest and snuggled up right under my chin. I got smooched by Screech :-x
He did it again this morning. We stood for the longest time having a cuddle, him snuggling right up under my neck and me stroking his back. In the end I had to put him back up on the trellis, sadly I can't spend the day with a bird sitting on my chest.