There are babies galore absolutely everywhere around here at the moment and some are very close to home! (And no, I don't mean that I'm pregnant. That's just my COVID 19 additional kilos. And probably then some if I'm honest 😂😉) I've waited a couple of weeks to share this because I'm a tad superstitious - actually I'm not even sure that that's true normally - but there's just something about wanting this particular thing to go well.
So. Tony the Tawny Frogmouth who has spent many a day snoozing and loads of time hunting the night away in our yard, including 'ooming' rhythmically at our door has some news: he's going to be a dad! About a month and a bit ago he was responding to the 'come and get me' call of a lovely lady, calling back, his orange eyes, unblinking and wide open. I've never seen him look so damn excited! 😂
Because we're total pervs, we ran to where he had flown and hung around for WAY too long, hoping to see some bird on bird action but the dark and the incoming plume of mosquitoes taking to the air and then to us, lead to us giving up before any baby making took place. I spotted Tony and Toni (I know, I know) the next day in the same tree but on different branches and as I didn't spot them together again, I assumed things hadn't gone as planned and there'd be no little muppet-esque babies in my, I mean, their, future.
And then while trying to get some photos of some Grey Butcherbirds a couple of weeks ago, who also just happen to be nesting nearby I heard a strange, short, sharp snapping sound. And then I heard it again, followed by one of the Butcherbirds warbling and careening in and out of the trees. And there amongst the foliage was Tony snapping that huge mouth of his at the nearby nesting birds, letting them know he wasn't going to take any grief. I stood there for a while wondering what had caused the disagreement and as my eyes moved down the trunk, I noticed a very haphazard looking nest, of sticks and leaves seemingly dumped in the tree's fork and on that, Toni sitting patiently.
Once the neighbourhood dispute had died down, they spent the afternoon together and since then it's mostly been Tony putting in the hard yards during the day. And so that's where we're at. All of us, especially me, waiting with baited breath, running out nervously whenever the weather is too hot, too cold, too windy or too rainy. After just getting one child to 18 and ready to fledge, I'm not sure I can handle the stress of the next few weeks!
Tawny Frogmouths
Northern Illawarra
