ZooBorns

Spindly but Fluffy: Tawny Frogmouths for San Antonio

These Tawny Frogmouth chicks were hatched at the San Antonio Zoo on April 24th and 26th 2011. The San Antonio Zoo has exhibited these secretive natives of Australia for over 30 years. Their extraordinary large eyes and mouth aid them in catching prey at night. They wait patiently in the branches of trees for prey, such as insects or mice, to wander by and quietly flutter down upon their unsuspecting meal. Each chick that hatches is the result of cooperative breeding programs between AZA (Association of Zoos & Aquariums) and zoos aimed at ensuring population viability, inspiring the public and promoting conservation in the wild.

Photo credits: San Antonio Zoo

A Peculiarly Wonderful Ball of Fluff

Longtime ZooBorns readers (or book owners!) will be no strangers to the peculiarly wonderful balls of fluff that are baby Tawny Frogmouth chicks. This little bird was born at Australia's Adelaide Zoo in October. The parents are both hand raised and it is unusual for hand raised birds to successfully raise their own young.  However these parents are doing a great job caring for the chick and are also feeding it well, with minimal supplementary feeding from the keepers. The chick weighed only 22 grams at birth (.8 ounces!) but is now a few months old and weighing in at 197 grams and can be seen flying around the exhibit but still staying close to its parents.

Don't miss this video which shows the chick at an even younger age.

Tawny Frogmouths are found throughout the Australian mainland, Tasmania and southern Papua New Guinea. They are often hard to spot within the trees as they camouflage so well. The Zoo is currently holding a naming contest for the chick. Vote today!

Tawny Frogmouth Chick at Woodland Park Zoo Part II

Here's another peek at the fluffball with a beak. The Woodland Park Zoo's baby Tawny Frogmouth sounds off in this clip from the Zoo's reel.

Tawny Frogmouth Fluff Ball

The Woodland Park Zoo proudly welcomed their first ever Tawny frogmouth hatchling last week. After a quick examination by zoo staff, the tiny cotton ball was quickly returned to the nest and its parents have been feeding it regularly. 

Clean-up!

Photo Credits: Ryan Hawk, Woodland Park Zoo

Both mother and father frogmouth typically look after their young for the first month or so until the chick is ready to leave the nest. Currently parents and chick are off exhibit to give the new family some private time, but you can follow them at the Woodland Park Zoo's blog.

Tawny Frogmouth Chicks

Meet Hoover and Sawyer, the two tawny frogmouth chicks hatched just last month at SeaWorld, Orlando. Often confused with owls, the tawny frogmouth is weaker and, frankly, lazier than most owls and is native to Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea. Well camouflaged, tawny frogmouths are so named because of their ridiculously wide beaks, already readily apparent on tiny Hoover and Sawyer.

 

Photo credits:  Jason Collier, SeaWorld Orlando 

More pics below if you click Continue reading.