Tawny Frogmouth

Alien Earthlings

One day, when their grandmother went to the market, they decided to sneak up to the attic and see for themselves. They found a wooden ladder that led to a trapdoor in the ceiling. They climbed up carefully and pushed the door open. A cloud of dust greeted them as they entered the dimly lit space.

The attic was full of old furniture, boxes, trunks and suitcases. There were also paintings, books, toys and clothes that belonged to their grandmother and her ancestors. The sisters felt like they had stepped into a treasure trove. They started to look around, each one drawn to a different corner of the room.

Holly found a chest full of costumes and accessories. She tried on a feather boa, a pearl necklace and a hat with a veil. She looked at herself in a cracked mirror and pretended to be a movie star.

Molly found a shelf full of books and journals. She picked up one of them and opened it. It was a diary written by their great-grandmother when she was a young girl. She read about her adventures, dreams and secrets. She felt like she had met a new friend.

Dolly found a pile of rugs and blankets. She lifted one of them and saw something that made her gasp. It was a phrase etched on the wooden floor: 'Save Tawny Frogmouth'. She wondered what it meant and who had written it.

She called her sisters over and showed them the mysterious message. They were all puzzled and curious. They had never heard of Tawny Frogmouth before. Was it a person, a place or a thing? Why did it need to be saved? And by whom?

They decided to ask their grandmother about it when she came back. But they didn't have to wait that long. As they were talking, they heard a loud thud from outside. They ran to the window and looked down. They couldn't believe their eyes... 

The Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) is Australia’s most common and widespread frogmouth species and is found throughout the mainland and in Tasmania. Despite being common, Tawny Frogmouths can be hard to spot during the day due to their excellent camouflage. Their posture, plumage and colouration helps them to blend into the background while perched on the large branches of native trees such as eucalyptus.