Bush B Volume 1 u d d i e s Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) When it’s not mistaken for an owl, the Tawny Frogmouth can easily be confused with a tree branch! With narrowed eyelids and a stretched neck, this bark-coloured bird is a master of camouflage. Tawny Frogmouths are between 34cm (females) and 53cm (males) long and can weigh up to 680g. Their plumage is mottled grey, white, black and rufous – the feather patterns help them mimic dead tree branches. Their feathers are soft, like those of owls, allowing for stealthy, silent flight. They have stocky heads with big yellow eyes. Stiff bristles surround their beak; these ‘whiskers’ may help detect the movement of flying insects, and/or protect their faces from the bites or stings of distressed prey (this is not known for certain). Their beak is large and wide, hence the name frogmouth. Their genus name, Podargus, is from the Greek work for gout. Why? Unlike owls they don’t have curved talons on their feet; in fact, their feet are small, and they’re said to walk like a gout-ridden man! Their species name, strigoides, means owl-like. They’re nocturnal and carnivorous, but Tawny Frogmouths aren’t owls – they’re more closely related to Nightjars. There are two other species of frogmouth in Australia – the Papuan Frogmouth (Podargus papuensis) lives in the Cape York Peninsula, and the Marbled Frogmouth (P. ocellatus) is found in two well-separated races: one in tropical rainforests in northern Cape York and the A Tawny Frogmouth disguised against the bark of a tree at Naree in NSW. other in subtropical forests of southern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales. Photo David and Sue Akers. Where do Tawny Frogmouths live? Tawny Frogmouths are found throughout Australia, on the mainland and Tasmania. They prefer open woodlands, but are found in a wide variety of habitats – rainforest margins, alpine woodlands, parks and gardens. They’re seldom found in arid regions or in dense rainforests. A breeding pair often stays in the same territory for more than 10 years. Common where they occur, chances are you’ve picnicked under a tree concealing a Tawny Frogmouth or two! The species is considered of Least Concern by the International Union for Tawny Frogmouths have powerful beaks Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. and eyes. Photo Jasmin-mae Robinson. Tawny Frogmouth behaviour Tawny Frogmouths sleep during the day. At The nest is made of sticks and rests on a horizontal tree branch. dusk they shake their disguise and begin their nocturnal hunt. They catch prey in flight, or by At night the breeding pair take turns incubating the eggs, but the father sitting motionless in a tree and then swooping normally takes the day shift. down on ground-dwelling prey. After the chicks have hatched, the whole Tawny Frogmouths eat insects and centipedes, worms, spiders, snails and slugs. family can be seen roosting on the same Tawny Frogmouth in temperate rainfor- Sometimes they eat larger prey like frogs, est, Liffey River Reserve, Tasmania. branch, side-by-side. Photo Wayne Lawler/EcoPix. reptiles and small birds and mammals. It’s thought that most of their water requirements Their call is a low booming “Oom-oom-oom-oom” noise. When threatened are obtained from their prey, rainfall and dew. they may hiss loudly and strike a defensive pose that makes them appear larger than life – eyes and beak wide open. But for Tawny Frogmouths, Tawny Frogmouths mate for life and in the wild they can live up to 14 years. disguise is the best form of defence! Females typically lay two to three eggs each breeding season (around August to December). Threats to Tawny Frogmouths While roosting, Tawny Frogmouths can be taken by Carpet Pythons. When on the ground hunting their own prey, these birds can be killed by feral cats, dogs and foxes. However, habitat loss, whether through land clearing, forestry or intensive bushfires, is the most serious threat to the ongoing health of the species – they’re reluctant to move to other areas if their habitat is destroyed. Tawny Frogmouths need woodlands with mature trees to nest and roost in, and to serve as a backdrop for their clever disguise. Organochlorine insecticides (used for termite control) and rat poison, when present in the prey of Tawny Frogmouths cause many deaths in urban areas. Finally, being nocturnal, the species is vulnerable to vehicle collision – they’re known to fly after headlight-illuminated insects. What’s Bush Heritage doing? We have Tawny Frogmouths on most of our reserves and partnership properties, from Tasmania to Queensland and across to the north west of Western Australia. We protect their habitat by conserving native vegetation, allowing trees to reach a mature age and conserving the ecosystem on which they depend. Our feral cat work also reduces the risk of predation. Tawny Frogmouths are masters of disguise. Photo by volunteer Tom Sjolund at Goonderoo Reserve. 360 361362 401 403 404 364 366 397 399 405 358 368 395 359 365 398 400 402 406 407 357 363 369 380 387 393 396 367 371 391 394 408 356 383384 390 409 370 372 376378 386 392 355 379 354 353 373 374 382 389 410 We want to see the 381 385388 411 412 377 352 351 375 413 414 We want to see 350 349 415 348 347 345 416 346 417 418 344 343 419 342 Burrowing Bettong 341 647 649 420 339 340 645 648 651 421 333334 338 332 335 422 the Burrowing 330331 337 643 423 326 329 336 644 646 650 324 328 327 424 321 642 425 319320 323 325 652 thriving again one day. 322 426 427 316 318 625 315 317 641 660 428 626 624 653 429 312 314 635 310 313 623 661 666 430 431 311 627 634 659 Bettong thriving 665 432 433 308 636 662 309 633 622 654 434 307 628 637 640 658 435 306 632 667 663 664 436 Help draw the line. 305 638639 621 657 437 438 304 629 439 620 668 440 303 630 631 655 656 441 442 302 619 669 595 446445 443 301 594 596 447 444 again one day. 300 449 451 299 298 593 597 448 297 592 598 605 450 295 296 584 453 294 585 586 587 591 604 452 293 455 292 583 582 588590 599600 602 606 454 Protect our native 581 580 601 603 457 456 291 579 617 607 458 290 288 589 616 608 459 289 615 618 460 461 287 609 462 285 286 670 614 610 465 464 284 613 611 463 612 466 283 671 Helpspecies draw the –line. before it’s 468 467 282 672 470 469 281 280 472 471 Protect our native species 279 277 673 473 278 474 276 476 275 475 too late. 695 674 477 274 273 478 – before it’s too late. 578 675 479 694 272 676 480 271 270 693 481 269 677 482 692 483 268 577 691 690 574 686 683 680 484 267 689 486 485 264 575 687 684 263 681 488 487 266 489 262 688 685 682 491 265 576 494 259 490 261 573 570 496 492 260 258 541 493 257 497495 256 571 255 500 498 253 542 254 252 572 569 566 501 499 251 249 504 247 540 506 502 250 246 567 543 507 503 248 245 505 244 565 508 243 568 562 539 510 242 240 239 563 544 512 509 241 538 237 514 511 238 564 235 545 516 236 561 558 513 537 518 234 515 559 520 233 517 232 546 536 522 560 526 231 554 528 519 230 557 530 524 229 547 521 228 555 531 529 523 227 532 525 226 556 527 224 549 548 533 223 223 218 219 220 221 225 553 550 534 216 217 53 215 535 214 551 54 13 213 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 211 55 52 1 2 3 4 5 6 210 131 129 552 50 16 17 18 19 209 133 127 125 56 49 15 20 208 123 51 48 23 207 135 132 130 128 126 57 47 25 21 206 137 124 46 35 34 26 145 143 141 139 134 121 58 45 44 43 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 33 32 31 30 28 22 205 147 136 122 24 204 149 138 120 27 151 146 144 142 140 59 203 153 148 119 29 202 150 118 60 155 152 117 201 154 116 61 200 157 115 62 64 156 63 66 68 199 159 158 114 65 70 67 72 198 113 74 76 81 82 160 69 71 78 197 1 109 105 73 83 161 12 103 75 77 79 80 196 111 84 195 110 108 107 106 104 86 162 102 87 85 194 101 88 100 99 96 95 94 93 193 163 98 97 92 91 90 89 192 164 191 165 190 165 167 189 168 188 169 187 170 186 171 185 172 184 173 183 175 182 174 176 181 177 180179178 BHA3715_PREMIUM_ƒ.indd 1 21/2/19 2:15 pm “Alwal was created here from the rainbow, the gold and the blue.” – MIKE ROSS, OLKOLA KNOWLEDGE HOLDER The Golden-shouldered Parrot, or Alwal in Olkola language, is one of Australia’s most beautiful, precious birds. Cut off the fold-out template below so you can make your very own Alwal.