Thread: Backyard residents

These two Tawney Frogmouths have made our backyard their territory for quite a number of years now. At least, I think it's the same two. Apparently, they can live for up to 10 years so it probably is the pair.

Isn't their camouflage superb?
Sometimes they roost elsewhere in the yard and they are almost impossible to find.

Each spring they nest in the same spot and try to raise a family. Sadly the last two years they have been unsuccessful. I think the first time it was the drought, but I'm pretty sure last year it was either the magpies or the crows. Some years they have tried to raise three chicks, but nature is harsh, and usually the third one fails to survive. Two chicks seems optimum but even then there's the runt.

I would like to get rid of the dead Black Wattle they usually roost in but they seem attached to that particular branch and I surely don't want to cause them to move on, so I guess I'll have to let nature take it's course and wait until it falls down of it's own accord.

Anyway, I caught them the other morning taking in rays of the morning sun


Ian