New bird species for our reserves

Tawny frogmouths are easy to identify, but hard to find. There are probably many more around than are seen. We have just seen this species in our reserves for the first time. And we are very excited.

Two months ago we found the remains of a tawny frogmouth (our very first record of the species) and now we’ve found a living bird. How many more are hiding away that we just pass by?

Tawny frogmouths are hard to find. They are very well camouflaged and take up a stick-like pose when threatened. They look just like a dead stump on a tree branch. Most of the time you can be within centimetres of them and they won’t move.

The one pictured above seems to be a bit more jumpy than most and fled when we were within 2 metres of it. We hadn’t seen the bird before it moved and haven’t had any luck seeing it again.

But we don’t need to see it again. Knowing that it is there (and this photo) is all we need.