A tawny frogmouth chick has been successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild. Photo: Rene Martens.
When Benalla photographer Rene Martens was walking around Lake Benalla, he didn’t expect to come across what appeared to be a breathing piece of wood.
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As he made his way closer, he realised it was a tawny frogmouth chick that had left the nest too early.
“I initially thought it might be a kookaburra or something similar,” he said.
“I slowly walked up to the stump, and as I got closer, I could make out a tawny frogmouth chick that must have fallen out of its nest.
“I looked around — my eyes are not the best these days — and I couldn’t see a nest.”
The tawny frogmouth when Rene Martens found it. Photo: Rene Martens.
So, he took out his phone and dialled Kristy Kilpatrick from Benalla Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, who was quick to check out the chick.
“The chick had learned, from its parent, the stance of the tawny frogmouth,” Mr Martens said.
“It was doing exactly that and not really moving around. I was reasonably happy and started to head off home.
“Kristy then informed me that she had made the decision to take the chick back home. The parents didn’t seem too fussed at the chick’s plight and were not protecting it.”
That wasn’t the end of Mr Martens’ frogmouth journey, spotting the chick’s parents and siblings a few days later and taking some family portraits.
One of the tawny frogmouth’s family members. Photo: Rene Martens.
“Some time later, and a few updates from Kristy, she then said the chick was ready to be released back into the wild. I jumped at the chance to grab a few more photos,” he said.
“I headed off to the lake that night and met up with Kristy, her husband, Matt, and the little tawny frogmouth.
“After a minute or so, the tawny frogmouth took off and stopped on a branch nearby. Let’s hope this tawny will live a long and fruitful life.
“Thanks must go to Kristy and Matt, who nurtured and looked after the chick to allow it to go off into the wild.”
Kristy Kilpatrick saying goodbye to the frogmouth before releasing it. Photo: Rene Martens.
Kristy Kilpatrick releasing the bird. Photo: Rene Martens.
The frogmouth during its release. Photo: Rene Martens.
The released frogmouth perched on a branch. Photo: Rene Martens.
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