• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

JadeCraven.Org

My Nature Blog

  • About
  • Trip Reports
  • Life List

queens park

The Queens Park Tawny Frogmouth Chicks

October 29, 2015 by Jade Craven Leave a Comment

Recently, one of my GFNC friends told me that there was a tawny frogmouth family along the Barwon river. It was nesting quite close to the path.

I had seen a nest before at Woodlands Historic Park. I hadn’t been able to get a good view of the nest so knew this was a good opportunity. It was apparently nesting right next to the path. This meant I would be able to get good views, and photos, without disturbing them too much.

I went down there the next day and saw this:

IMG_2114

It was a gloomy Saturday. I had bussed it down to this particular stretch and spent 15 minutes watching them, while trying to protect my camera from the rain. The photos were mediocre but I didn’t care. I had seen it!

IMG_2122

IMG_2126

IMG_2130

IMG_2136

IMG_2138

IMG_2141

IMG_2147

I went down there to show Sethy and mum the next day. They love wildlife and I knew they would love seeing it. It was considerably more sunny and both of them were out. I got some magnificent photos.

IMG_2724

IMG_2726

IMG_2735

IMG_2736

IMG_2762

IMG_2764

The above photos were taken on the 10th and 11th of October. Earlier this week, on the 26th, I saw this.

IMG_6027

They weren’t there. It was slightly too early for them to fledge. Something had happened to them. Whether predator or weather, I do not know.

~

The ending is sad but I was able to learn a lot from the experience.

  • Birds in southern areas may have two broods in a season compared to the north, where they mostly have one.
  • Both sexes incubate the eggs. The male sits during the day, but both sexes share sitting at night. (Via Birdlife.)
  • Breeding is advertised by both partners drumming nightly from the nest site. (Via Australia Zoo). This reminds me of the Palm Cockatoo behaviour – and it would be something that would be amazing to see.
  • Chicks hatch after a month. Both parents help to feed them until they are fledged, in about a month’s time. During this time the whole family may be seen roosting side by side on a branch. (via Billabong Sanctuary)

I also read that the clutch size is different in different areas. I will edit this post accordingly when I have my book.

There is another family a little bit further up. They are nesting further away from the path, and about twice as high. I hope they have better luck.

Filed Under: Barwon River, Geelong Tagged With: queens park, tawny frogmouth

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Two Varients of Botryllus Schlosseri in Apollo Bay Harbour
  • Pied Cormorant Eating A Fish At Apollo Bay Harbour
  • Australian Fur Seals at Apollo Bay Harbour
  • Injured Seal at Apollo Bay Harbour
  • Queenscliff Banksia

Categories

  • Apollo Bay
  • Barwon River, Geelong
  • Bellarine Peninsula
  • Big Things
  • Brisbane Ranges
  • Chiltern
  • Eastern Beach
  • Geelong And Surrounds
  • Gold Coast
  • Goldfields
  • Great Ocean Road
  • Melbourne
  • My Backyard
  • Other
  • Otways
  • Port Phillip Bay
  • Shipwreck Coast
  • Surf Coast
  • Tasmania
  • The Property
  • Toolangi
  • Uncategorized
  • West Melbourne

Copyright © 2023 · Parallax Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in