Rick Simpson Birding Services

Unexpectedly a few weeks ago a member of the public turned up at the Ubatuba Birdwatching Centre with a baby Tropical Screech-Owl in a bag. He had rescued the bird from a group of children that had been playing with it. Not knowing from whence the creature came, and therefore where its mother might be, or even if she was alive, he decided to bring it to us.

Molly the day she arrived at the Birdwatching Centre.

He said he had managed to feed it on meat and chicken, and indeed she seemed delighted to take our expensive steak, however, this is not the normal diet of a Tropical Screech-Owl. So ensued the daily routine of catching grasshoppers, crickets, moths and other unfortunate insects whilst about our business at the centre, in order to give the bird a more natural diet.

That steak went down well!

I dislike anthropromorhising wild creatures, but somehow or other the bird ended up with the name Molly-Wol, Molly for short. As she grew and shed her downy chick feathers, she started to flap her wings and fly from one end of the cage to the other, and started catching any small creature that was unfortunate enough to stray into her cage. When she dropped an insect, or we put one in the cage she pounced on it with enthusiasm displaying a natural ability to feed herself.

Juicy grasshopper, now that's better.

Eventually we decided she was ready for the big wide world. Our only concern was whether she was able to fly strongly enough. We needn’t have worried. Her first free flight was even and controlled and lasted for about 20 metres. We watched her for a while, released some grasshoppers near to her and waited to see what would happen.

Having a good look around.

Naturally with all the new sights and sounds she resolutely ignored the grasshoppers, and she eventually moved off into the forest on silent, steady wings, alighting perfectly and not with the awkwardness of youth. Then she was gone, silently into the night, her passing was marked by the eerie lament of a Common Potoo, as if welcoming her back into the wild.

Good luck Molly, farewell.

All photographs copyright Rick and Elis Simpson.