May is one of the loveliest months of the year, I think. And for the birds around here it seems to be one of the busiest. First they gather nesting materials, then they are on a constant mission to collect bugs to feed a growing family. Later on, I love to see the baby birds on the lawn being taught by their now weary parents to forage for themselves.
Much as I enjoy our native birds, it's always a delight to learn about these feathered friends in other lands. Often they seem quite exotic to me, and I can only imagine how it would be to find jewel-colored hummingbirds in my garden or to spy a bluebird -- birds which some of you are used to encountering every day!
Further afield, the birds look stranger still to those of us who have never seen them before. For instance, do you know what a Tawny Frogmouth looks like? Unless you have spent time in Australia, you might not even have known that it was a bird. Well, Sandy (or oztoo as you may know her) lives in Queensland in Australia, and the Tawny Frogmouth is just one of the interesting bird species that visit her garden.
Sandy writes in Tawny Frogmouth -- a fascinating Australian bird that some people think that these funny little characters are ugly birds, but she doesn't agree. Neither do I! They do look to me like little owls, though Sandy points out that they are no relation in spite of being nocturnal hunters. What really impressed me was the ability of this bird to use the art of camouflage. Take a look at the picture in her article to see what I mean!
It's sad to learn that these delightful creatures often fall prey themselves to human threats such as traffic and pesticides. However, it's also good to know that there are many who appreciate their presence, and it was a treat to be introduced to their habits and character by someone who has a true affection for them.
Note: Sandy found this picture of a pair of Tawny Frogmouths just like those that visit her backyard. Aren't they cute!
Visit: Tawny Frogmouth -- a fascinating Australian bird
Image Credit: Tawny Frogmouth by Blueday
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Ahhh, they are adorable and they sure do look like owls. May is a lovely month, isn't it?
ReplyDelete[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by MiMi. MiMi said: SquidooLensReviews: Ever Met a Tawny Frogmouth? http://goo.gl/fb/x5hfb #reviews #australia #birds #oztoo [...]
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this look at these little birds. And what a name, Tawny Frogmouth :) Thanks Nicki for bringing showcasing this.
ReplyDeleteA wonderfully wrought lens from oztoo. Love the way the tawny frogmouth can camouflage so well!
ReplyDeleteThe Tawny Frogmouth is quite an interesting bird. Oztoo did a remarkable job teaching us about them and those photos are just incredible.
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