Book gets inside the lives of tawny frogmouths

October 09, 2007

Gisela Kaplan has hand-raised 36 tawny frogmouths, and has systematically observed many more in the wild. The intimate knowledge she has gained through that research and personal experience informs her newly-published book about these remarkable birds.

Tawny Frogmouth (CSIRO Publishing, 2007) is, as a result, the most comprehensive record of their lives to date, drawing on a larger sample size than any previous study of this species.

Gisela Kaplan, who is Professor in Animal Behaviour at the University of New England's Centre for Neuroscience and Animal Behaviour, specialises in bird behaviour and higher cognition in animals. In her spare time she rehabilitates native Australian birds. (She is pictured here with a tawny frogmouth.) "The initial impression one gets of tawny frogmouths is that they are 'stoic' and show little emotion," she said. "But this is because we usually see these nocturnal birds during the day, when they tend to sleep. In fact they have a very large range of expressions, including many – such as expressions of anger, grieving, curiosity, affection, and likes and dislikes – that were once thought to be unique to humans."

As a surrogate "parent" of orphaned nestlings, Professor Kaplan has been exposed to all of those expressions of emotion, and her book includes photographs illustrating the full range of their "body language". She also describes each of the calls comprising their complex and expressive system of vocal communication. "They're extremely good communicators," she said.

The book draws on Professor Kaplan's observation of – and interaction with – the 60-odd tawny frogmouths she has hand-raised, rehabilitated, or studied in the wild over the past 10 years. It also gives a thorough update on other research on this species (most of which has been conducted by UNE scientists).

Professor Kaplan's systematic observation of hand-raised birds continues, often for two or three breeding seasons, after their release into the wild. One of her "parenting" responsibilities, she said, is teaching juveniles to hunt. "It's a slow process," she explained. "At first a favourite food item is presented and held just a few inches away from them. In order to pick it up with their beaks they have to take a step or two along the branch. They're quite stubborn about this, and one has to be very patient. Then, gradually, the distance they have to move is increased. They've finally 'graduated' once they can fly down to the ground to pick up a food item and then fly quickly back to the perch. Equipped with these skills (which, in the wild, they learn while they are still with their parents) they are ready for release."

As tawny frogmouths are highly territorial birds, Professor Kaplan has to find a "tawny-free" area in which to release her "graduates". "In my case it's easy to tell when it's time for their release," she said, "because the property has a resident adult tawny frogmouth pair, and they will unfailingly come to the aviary at the right time and start threatening the fledgling tawny frogmouths.

"The ultimate success – as in rehabilitation work with individuals of any native species – is when the released bird pairs with a wild tawny frogmouth."

That pairing is for life, as tawny frogmouths appear to be monogamous and highly loyal to their partners. "They seem to grieve after the death of a partner," Professor Kaplan said, "often staying near the place where the partner died and even whimpering. One bird I was observing chased away all suitors for four years after the death of her mate."

Professor Kaplan is a passionate advocate of the need to research native species and inform the Australian public about the nation's wildlife. "Only by getting to know their wildlife can people begin to feel a sense of ownership," she said. "It's hugely important for us to improve education in this regard at all levels – from primary school to university – so that we can all become good custodians of our natural heritage. And, with adverse developments such as climate change, there's a degree of urgency about it."

Tawny Frogmouth is her latest contribution to this endeavour. It follows the outstanding success of her Australian Magpie (UNSW Press & CSIRO Publishing, 2004) – also a book aimed at a wide audience but containing the latest research findings – and her children's book Famous Australian Birds (Allen & Unwin, 2003). She is also the author (with Lesley Rogers) of Birds: Their habits and skills (Allen & Unwin, 2001), and has written many other books on animal behaviour.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at October 9, 2007 12:44 PM