Aerial athletes and unsung hunters by night, tawny frogmouths are more than just their Muppet looks | Debbie Lustig

"Frogmouths have another life that few people see: like vampires, they wake at sunset and night-hunt until dawn. These stolid creatures turn into zephyrs that silently swoop, catching prey on the ground and in the air."

"Frogmouths breed from August to December and that's the best season for watching them fly. They're constantly on the wing, bringing food to their offspring."

"Initially, I looked for the telltale white splodges on the ground, or whitewash (poop). Frogmouths are prodigious creators, leaving copious amounts beneath their nests."

Tawny frogmouths possess a dual nature that contrasts sharply with their daytime appearance as motionless tree stumps. By night, these birds become active hunters, silently swooping to catch prey both on the ground and in the air. During breeding season from August to December, they are particularly active, constantly flying to deliver food to their offspring. A researcher conducted over 40 visits to Hopetoun Gardens in Melbourne to observe a breeding pair, locating them by identifying whitewash beneath their nests in cedar trees. The nocturnal observations revealed the dramatic transformation of these birds from seemingly inert creatures into dynamic aerial hunters, showcasing an often-unseen aspect of their behavior.

Read at www.theguardian.com