Gardening  News

Tawny Frogmouths

From Sam C, Year 3 student

Again, the Tawny Frogmouths have been spotted in the pepper corn tree, near the south side, next to Harcourt Street. These members of the owl family aren’t actually owls, here’s why, while you might mistake the facial features of the Tawny Frogmouth for those of an owl, their lack of clawed talons prevents them from being classified as such. Without the ability to snatch up and disable prey from the air with their feet, they instead rely on their unique beak to catch a meal. Their large mouths are highly precise when on the hunt, but these funny birds will also passively catch a meal by simply leaving their mouths open and hoping for insects to fly in. 

Tawny Frogmouths live in Australia, like a few other owls, but the Tawny Frogmouth doesn’t live worldwide.

Tawny Frogmouths use and rely on their camouflage to hide from bugs and if they aren’t careful… SNAP! And they’re gone. Tawny Frogmouths get their name from their beak, which is shaped like a frog’s mouth.

Let me know it you spot them, there are two in living in the Peppercorn tree outside the Art room.