Tawny Frogmouths!

We are lucky enough to have 2 new residents in our Reserve and we are receiving lots of enquiries about them so a post on Tawny Frogmouths is required.

                                               Photo courtesy of Rhonda kennedy


Tawny Frogmouths are related to the owl but the closest relative is actually the Nightjar.
They are native throughout Australia and Tasmania (except far West Queensland and central Northern Terrritory).
As locals will have noticed the Tawny`s perch on low branches during the day and are camouflaged as part of the tree, often choosing a broken part of a tree branch. Pairs sit together with their bodies touching and partner for life. They will usually stay in the same territory for a decade or more.

Tawny Frogmouths are carniverous, their diet consisting of large nocturnal insects, moths, spiders, worms, slugs,snails, small mammals (mice), reptiles and frogs.

As Tawny Frogmouths have adapted to live in close proximity to humans they are at risk of exposure to pesticides and insecticides. Rodent poisons remain in the system of the target animal and can be fatal to the Tawny that eats them. They are also killed on roads during feeding as they fly in front of vehicles when chasing insects illuminated by the headlights.

We feel very lucky to having them choose our Reserve to live in.