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]

I found a more recent photo of Screech, I think I posted it in another thread a while back, but to keep all the "Screech" stuff together, here he is again. This was taken about 3-4 weeks ago, from memory. You can see the difference from the first photo in the op to this photo, will be interesting to see the differences in the photos tomorrow.

[j*oono]

I hope it all goes really well tomorrow night and that we see some lovely farewell pics 😞

You've done a wonderful job.  Screech I'm afraid is so gorgeous that you are going to miss him to bits.

[cat_mioux]

I loved reading about Screech and your amazing care and concern for him.

Can't wait to see his Big Boy photo's!

[2106greencat]

A warm fuzzy story :-x  And a very lucky Screech to have you

[sprinklespowerpuff]

Hi Monsters, thanks so much for the updates. I hope you are very proud of yourself - you should be - so much care and work for one little bird but of course a labour born out of love above all else. On a different note hope all the water round your place has fully receded and everything is back to normal for you and yours. Keeping you and Screech (of course) in my thoughts.

[tasfleur]

[monstersinthedungeon]

Joono, Ms. Mioux, Cat, Sprinkles, thank you for your kind thoughts. :-x

The hour is drawing ever closer, I hope I got some lovely photos this afternoon. 

Sprinkles, not quite back to normal, still can't cross our driveway (I can cross on foot, but it's hairy and I need the help of a big stick to feel my way), so I've been hauling rocks from the creek all day in an attempt to fill the massive hole. Am absolutely exhausted, so will download piccys tomorrow. Am going to try to get some of him flying away, but the light won't be good, because release is scheduled for dusk (being a nocturnal bird). 

Tas, that is absolutely gorgeous, thank you so much. I am going to print it out and hang it on my wall and when I am sad about letting Screech go, I will look at it and remember that that was my role in his life - not to keep as a pet, but to save him, grow him up, and set him free.

[2106greencat]

And I suspect very much he will either not go, not go far, and that he will definitely be back. A sad but happy day for you I can imagine and I think you are a very special person.

[mainecoon1]

monster when you feel sad about letting Screech go just think that it is because of your kindness that Screech is alive to be set free instead of dead which is probably what would have happened if you had not taken the responsibility on.

Screech is just so cute and I am looking forward to the free Screech photos.  Good luck with the release I hope it will all go well but don't be suprised if you see Screech in your garden tomorrow night.

[kengillard]

well done OP.  looking forward to seeing pics too:-x