Meet Chucky
Let me introduce you to Chucky, a Tawny Frogmouth. Now, let’s clear something up right away: Tawny Frogmouths are not owls. These unique birds, with their wide beaks and large eyes, are often mistaken for owls, but they're actually more closely related to nightjars.
Chucky came into my life on November 10, 2018, as a little ball of fluff. Oh, what fun! So, so cute. He earned his name because when he'd had enough food, he would fill his mouth, not swallow, then chuck it everywhere. What a mess!
Rehabilitating Chucky was an absolute joy. However, there's always the danger of imprinting these birds, so I called the raptor center. They told me it's almost impossible not to imprint Tawny Frogmouths, so just enjoy the experience and let things sort themselves out.
The biggest challenge was when Chucky needed to start eating mice. I bought frozen ones from Murdoch University. Defrosting them and feeding Chucky was just disgusting. I had to pretend they were jelly babies to get through it! Imagine me trying to convince myself that those little pinkies were candy. The things we do for love, right?
Eventually, Chucky moved to Sequin Lodge, (January 2019) where he got a girlfriend named Lucy. The two lovebirds were subsequently released into the wild. Chucky still hangs around with Lucy, and they've been seen rearing their own babies. Seeing Chucky happy and thriving with his new family warms my heart.
I have had 2 others short term in Care Tawny and Tamar. Such fun birds.
Chucky and Lucy
