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). 

[2chappies]

Great rescue mon. Lovely story.  :-x

This morning OH found a lorrikeet sitting on our front fence all puffed up and not well. Then it got down on the footpath and almost got trod on by some pedestrians passing by.  We live on a very busy road with lots of commuters parking for the trains. OH managed to get a broken branch from a tree and he hopped on. We then parked him on one of our native trees and he walked right up to the top and across to a flowering gum.  We hope he is OK as we can't see him now in the foliage and there a some feral cats in our neighbourhood. At least he was safe from the road and the pedestrians. 🙂

[monstersinthedungeon]

Just an update to anyone who may have been wondering: Screechy boy is going to be released tomorrow evening.

I have been waiting (and waiting and waiting) for this awful weather to pass, but there is just no end in sight. Screech has made it clear over the last couple of nights that it's time to go, despite the weather.  He has been a bit antsy when I have been feeding him (eating well, but restless, very talkative and looking up at the sky).

The final decider was that tonight he flew down in front of me and caught a bug!  First time I have ever seen him do that, so am now very confident he can find his own food. 

The weather over the last couple of days has been quite a bit better than the past week, Screech is fully feathered and although it's going to be very sad, it's time to let him go.

Would have done it tonight, but selfishly, I just want to get some last photos tomorrow before I set him free at dusk.  Will post them to show you how much he has matured.

I will be very sad, a bit like mum dropping off her kids at school for the first time, except of course, I don't get to pick him up at the end of the day 😞 

So everyone, send your good thoughts and wishes to Screechy for a long, happy and FREE life.

[tasfleur]

Yaaaaay!!!  Screechy will be freed .. yaaaay xxxxx

What a wonderful person you are Monsters, Screechy has another chance.

[debra9275]

well done monsters!:-x

It's sad to let him go but it's the right thing to do. I hope he visits your garden often after his release Good luck with the photos I hope you do manage to get some

[tasfleur]

I concur Debra, she's done a wonderful job of looking after Screechy.

[monstersinthedungeon]

Thanks Tas and Debra, it will certainly be bitter sweet. Hopefully I will be able to catch glimpses of him from time to time.

[tasfleur]

I'm sure you will see him from time to time Monsters, and am really looking forward to more photographs xx

[mainecoon1]

Well done monster like other posters I am sure he/she will come and visit and hopefully in the near future nest in your garden so you can see the new chicks

I am looking forward to seeing the photos

[everything*that*i*ever*wanted]

Monster's you just made my eyes leak. You are a wonderful feather foster mummy !

[monstersinthedungeon]

Hi Maine, Hi Trish,

Believe me, my eyes will be leaking a bit tomorrow evening too!