Florida zoo welcomes 2 Tawny Frogmouth chicks

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Two new bundles of joy have joined the Brevard Zoo after hatching earlier this week.

Two Tawny Frogmouth chicks, one male and one female, are the first chicks at the zoo for their male, Dijon, while the female, Hotdog, has had several chicks over her years. However, Brevard Zoo said neither parent showed interest in caring for the eggs, so the eggs were artificially incubated and are being raised by the animal care team.

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After hatching, the birds moved to a specifically temperature-heated space for optimum health. During their first few weeks, they feed every 2-3 hours until 10 p.m., eating a mixture of pinky mice, cat food soaked in Pedialyte, and soaked, insectivore diet.

“After a few days, their eyes open, and they become more interactive,” a training specialist for the zoo said. “Then, we can start spending more time with them, introducing novel objects to their environment as enrichment and beginning the ‘desense’ process for ambassador life.”

Once they turn a month old, the birds will be ready to take flight and begin training. They will also move to a diet of crickets, mealworms, waxworms, mice-like chicken, a bird of prey diet, and quail pieces.

The team hopes the birds will eventually be able to move onto a keeper’s hand or a scale by themselves, go into their carrier voluntarily, and fly during their indoor programs.

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“Their eyes have just opened – although you might not have guessed looking through these sleepy photos!” the zoo said.

Brevard Zoo anticipates the chicks to stay at the zoo full time. The zoo is located at 8225 North Wickham Road in Melbourne.

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