Tawny Frogmouths

TAWNY FROGMOUTHS; hello I’m Fredrick we {Delia & I}  are lucky to have TFs roosting at our place 12klms from Brisbane CBD in the northern suburbs. Sometimes one, most times two and in one period, three we supposed it to be a family.

These interesting birds sit all day on the casement windows of our house. We had our grandson Anthony visiting in late 2011 and after searching the Internet wildlife sites I started logging the visits. There was one wildlife site, I found back then, not BIBY, which suggested keeping data on the birds as little is known of their habits. So now I have two years of roosting numbers and interestingly which casement sills the TFs chose that particular morning to be on fro the day. For instance visits are, days with a solo bird, other days two, sometimes both sitting on the one sill, or one on each sill same window set, sometimes roosting well apart as today, Saturday 26th, 2 1W, 21N. This is one TF on a western facing window pane of bedroom #2, another on bedroom 2 also but on a northern facing window pane.  

I’m hoping that forum members will be interested in my collected data and looking forward to any feedback and comments. We also have Butcher birds visiting daily, please see “Butcher bird visits” this forum.

It must only be coincidence, but i rescued one Tawny Frogmouth some years back. It was sitting in the centre of a city bound lane of a fairly major traffic route. Wrapping it up in a blanket, I took it home and next morning went to a local AVARIAN vet  the next day I received a telephone call to return to collect the bird or they could pass it on. I said I would collect the TF and then that night would release it into the same area, as I’d found it… No experience on this, but it seemed like the correct thing to do.

I’m curious to know where the TFs go at night just after mid dark and if that hunting and feeding place is where they hang out all night. It is just as day breaks that they return to our window sills. Sometimes we hear a bit of chatter as they settle onto the top of a window or onto separate panes.

Another thing that I would like to know is WHY, one day the TFs are snuggled up close on the one pane, or separated by 200mms and on another day are on separate panes or even separate windows, one window facing north the other facing west.

Today, I heard a prolonged noise from the bird on #2n, {a window facing North} Previously, I have thought of it as a drumming sound, a vibration coming from the bird’s chest. I would like to hear other members’ views and interpretations of the sound. I have just been fitted with moulded, in ear aids and still learning and waiting for the retuning of my ear drums, but not sure then what the sounds will be.

The sound is a bit like a long woooooo, which is building up, to some greater sound, - if that makes sense to anyone.

Yes, a bit owlish, but not the “ooo”, “ooo”, “ooo” or “who”, “who”, “who”, of an owl, but a deep sound, from the chest or gut, a vibration, a “woo”, rather than a “who” Any comments?

Delia & Fredrick

Wednesday, July 30th, 2014 1338hrs.

Don't know too much about their (TF) behaviours and habits, but it is important to return all wildlife, including birds, to a place as close as possible to where they are found, at a time of days (species specific) where the chances of survival are greatest. No point in releasing a nocturnal species in the morning, as this greatly increases the chance of predation. Many are territorial, for example Brush Tail Possums, have been known to move up to 10klm in order to return "home". Placing them (particularly adult males) in another territory will lead to a fight to the death over home turf. 

Below is a link from the rescue section, which contains basic information about rescue, it is relevant to all wildlife, and not just birds. There is also contact information, to seek help/advice or to contact a rescue organisation in most areas. These experts will also be able to advise about release times etc.

http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/forum/Bird-rescuerehabilitation/What-do-if-you-find-injuredsick-bird-check-here-first

We do wildlife rescue for Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuaries Friends of Carers (FOC) program, and reptile rescue for Reptile Rescue Inc. here in Southern Tasmania (both have websites for anyone interested). These organisations experience confirms the need to minimise distance from original location, when releasing wildlife. In fact, Tasmanian Tiger Snakes (Notechus Scutatus) have a very low survival rate if moved more than 2 or 3 kilometres. They adapt to their home range, and become accustomed to hunting that range, even subtle changes to things like altitude and forest type can affect the chance of survival. To move them can cause great stress and disruption to their lives, often resulting in death. Litte information is available about our other 2 species, but we assume the same applies. If we rescue (usually remove unwanted animals, furred feathered and scaled,from someone's yard or house or victims of road trauma) we try and relocate very close by, or if injured or sick, seek Vetinary help for treatment and rehabilitation prior to release. This is not always possible, and so we have a few specimens in captivity (snakes that is) and they are used for public awareness program's, in the hope that man and snake can coexist in the same location. Other wildlife which is unable to be rehabilitated for release, is either humanely euthanised, or if a species of concern, placed into a captive breeding program (Tassie Devils for example).

EDIT I am a registered wildlife Carer, specialising in Reptiles, and have also completed a Joey Carers course, and as courses become available hoping to do the same for birds. In Tasmania, you require a Herpetology Permit to keep reptiles and amphibians and each injured specimen requires notification and a special permit for each individual animal. This enables the authorities to monitor success of treatment and rehab.