Treating patients @Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital

Phil and Ben the Tawny Frogmouth Chicks

Age: Juvenile Sex: Unknown Weight: 150 gramms each

Phil and Ben were found by a member of the public on the ground after being abandoned by their parents. They were transported to The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital by the concerned people who found them.

Phil and Ben were very bright and alert when they arrived at the hospital but very hungry.  With her first visual assessment Dr Amber noticed that Phil was not standing very well on his left leg.  After anaesthetising him, an X-ray was taken of Phil's leg and Dr Amber found it was fractured.  Ben's condition was good, with no injuries. Ben needed no treatment except for some hydration with fluids.  Dr Amber created a light splint for Phil's leg to support the fracture during healing.  The prognosis for a successful outcome is greatly improved because Phil is such a young bird.

Phil and Ben have been placed in the care of a specialist bird rehabilitator who is very experienced with Tawny Frogmouths. The rehabilitator will not only raise the chicks, they will have to be taught to hunt for their food and what is suitable food for them to eat.

Tawny Frogmouths have a varied diet of snails, slugs, worms, small mammals, reptiles, frogs, small birds and nocturnal insects. Tawny frogmouths often end up at our hospital after being hit by cars as they have a tendency to hunt beside roads at night feeding on insects attracted by the street lights.