Olivia called WIRES for assistance when she came across a very young Tawny frogmouth sitting on the grass at Southern Cross University in Lismore.
WIRES volunteer Julie responded to the call and was soon on site.
Julie could see the parent bird high up in the tree sitting on the nest; there were obviously other chicks in the nest.
Providing a substitute nest for the little Tawny frogmouth found on the ground would in this instance not be an option, the parent birds would not be able to look after two nests at the same time.
Julie too note of the approximate height of the nest in the tree….
Julie brought the little Tawny frogmouth home to check it for injuries and give it some much needed hydration fluid , it had been under severe stress for some time, first falling from the nest , then sitting alone on the ground.
It had been late afternoon when the call come into WIRES and by the time Julie had finished examining and hydrating the little one it was dark, too late to do anything other than keep the little bird overnight. It was fed and settled down for the night in Julies care.
The following morning Julie went back on site, with her she had a very long extension pole and the little Tawny frogmouth. The extension pole is fitted out with a special platform made just for situations such as this.
The little Tawny frogmouth was carefully placed on the platform and Julie slowly and expertly raised the pole towards the nest, and the parent bird. Slowly the pole went higher and higher, the parent bird watching….. As soon as the pole reached the nest the little tawny hopped of onto the branch, and within seconds snuggled into mum (or dads) feathers.
Julie slowly lowered the pole, satisfied that the family was safely back together.
To make absolutely sure, Julie went back the following morning to check, she could clearly see the little one sitting next to the parent bird, all was well in the Tawny frogmouth family.
Thank you Olivia for calling WIRES.
Pictures by Julie Marsh