Ball of feathers Balto busting for the release into Tasmanian wild

BALTO may be just a tiny ball of white and grey feathers at the moment, but the tawny frogmouth chick is rapidly growing up in time to be released into the wild.

Baby tawny frogmouth chick Balto at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. Picture: LIZ PULO

BALTO may be just a tiny ball of white and grey feathers at the moment, but the tawny frogmouth chick is rapidly growing up in time to be released into the wild.

Balto was born four weeks ago at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary and is currently in the 24 hour care of senior keeper Monique ten Bohmer.

Bonorong founder Greg Irons said chicks had to be hand-reared at the sanctuary as the parents tended to kill their own young in captivity.

“Balto will be released into the wild in a month-and-a-half or two after a period of time with other tawnies,” Mr Irons said.

“We have to teach them [the chicks] to catch insects in bowls to see that they can hunt too.”

Ms ten Bohmer said caring for Balto at home had been enjoyable.

“It was scary at first as it is the first bird I have raised from hatchling age,” she said.

“I was getting up early to feed Balto, who has been a little trooper.”

Mr Irons said Balto’s parents were both blind in one eye after being hit by cars so they couldn’t be released.

Tawny frogmouths often suffer injury flying into the path of cars at night while chasing insects lit up by their headlights.

Originally published as Ball of feathers Balto busting for the release into Tasmanian wild