Day 18 Project Baby Mot Mot

Today as I sat in front of Hoople’s habitat to feed him he flew right up to the door grate and hung on with a mad flapping of wings. I definitely need to be careful to keep him contained for a bit longer!

I’ve been trying to feed him from afar— not letting too close to me, putting the food in the cage on leaves, in mango, etc. for him to stalk and catch.

     Feeding Schedule
     740am     6 meal worms, 3 June bugs
     900         6 meal worms, 2 June bugs
     1100       4 meal worms, 3 June bugs
     100pm    5 meal worms, 2 June bugs
     200         3 meal worms, several random bugs
     300         2 meal worms, 1 June bugs, few other bugs 
     400         2 meal worms, 2 June bugs, other random bugs
     600         5 earthworms
     730         2 earthworms, 3 June bugs, random bugs

Total : 23 meal worms, 16 June bugs, 7 earthworms, random bugs 

Day 17 Project Baby Mot Mot

July 10

I’ve been trying to get a Hoople to find water on his own (instead of me offering it in a dropper). Today after I put a few drops on a leaf he took a sip! Now he is entertaining me with a dirt bath.



A friend brought over a bucket of dry compost full of pill bugs. Now I can put a handful in the habitat for Hoople to search through on his own.

     Feeding Schedule
     800am     5 meal worms, water
     900         6 meal worms, June bug
     1045       3 June bugs
     1145       5 meal worms, 1 June bug
     110pm    5 meal worms, 1 June bug
     220         6 meal worms, 1 June bug
     400         7 meal worms, 2 June bugs
     520         7 meal worms
     700         3 meal worms, soaked pellets

Day 16 Project Baby Mot Mot

July 9

Hoople can easily turn himself around on his small perch to face out now.

     Feeding Schedule
     800am        4 meal worms, 1june bug
     915            13 meal worms, mango
     1030           6 meal worms, mango
     1200pm      3 meal worms, 1 lizard
     1245           6 meal worms, 1 moth
     210             5 meal worms, 2 June bugs
     330             5 meal worms, 1 June bug
     430             7 meal worms
     615             8 meal worms, mango
     745             4 meal worms

Day 15 Project Baby Mot Mot

July 8

Hoople is progressing each day. He can now fly to his perch with ease. He sits on his perch facing the wall, having not learned to maneuver on the perch to face outwards. He tick tocks his tail rhythmically back and forth. I read that the Mot Mot uses the wagging of the tail as a defense mechanism...sensing danger, the bird “tick tocks” the tail to warn predators to stay away!

Hoople loves to sit at the back of his cage on a rock—facing out, facing out, keeping watch. He is quite mindful of other bird sounds and loud noises—rushing to safety if detected.

Day 14 Project Baby Mot Mot

July 7

Oh my! Hoople has really been fun today! 
1) He is learning to fly...flies up to his perch ( missing sometimes) and flies down to see me with great flourish.

2) He perches right on the edge of the door and will fly right to me if I’m not careful. And
3) He loves a dirt bath! This has been the most amazing thing to watch! He hunkers down in the dirt, spreads his wings and ruffles all up...



     Feeding Schedule
     800am        8 meal worms
     900            7 meal worms
     1000          7 meal worms
     1100          5 meal worms
     1215pm     2 flies, 7 meal worms
     145           2 flies, 1 winged insect, 8 meal worms
     315           1 fly, 1 beetle, 5 meal worms
     400           5 meal worms
     500           5 meal worms
     600           6 meal worms
     700           5 meal worms
     815           5 meal worms

Total : 68 meal worms, 1 beetle, 5 flies        

Day 13 Project Baby Mot Mot

July 6

Today my husband, Craig fixed a new habitat for Hoople! He used an extra large dog kennel, filled the bottom with dirt and forest floor material. He added a branch for a perch with various sized twigs. We put the original small carrier with his nesting tunnel inside toward the back of the crate. Hoople loves it! Now he is beginning to practice flying! He pecks all around as if searching for food and seems very content.

He was up on the smallest branch at one point, but I’ve yet to see him fly there!

     Feeding Schedule

     745am        1 June bug, 5 meal worms

     845             1 June bug, 4 meal worms

     945             5 meal worms

     1045           1 June bug, 5 meal worms

     1145           5 meal worms

     145             6 meal worms, water

     300             8 meal worms

     400             7 meal worms

     500             5 meal worms, soaked pellets 

     615             3 meal worms

     800             7 meal worms, mango, water

     

Day 12 Project Baby Mot Mot

July 5

Today my granddaughters showed up with a jar of June bugs and very large beetles. We also caught a different type of lizard that the ones we’ve fed previously. 

He ate some of the bugs, but would not touch the lizard. Later when Sophia and I went to feed him he opened his beak very wide a couple of times, then gave his head a sharp toss and out flew a big clot of chewed up bug shell, wings and legs! Guess in the future I should remove the hard shell and wings? He’s persnickety!!

     Feeding Schedule
     715am      9 meal worms, pellets
     825           4 meal worms, water
     900           4 meal worms, pellets
    1005          9 meal worms, 2 beetles
    1100          8 meal worms, 1 beetle
    1200pm     6 meal worms, water, 1 beetle, 2 small bugs
    100           3 June bugs, 1 winged insect
    130           3 winged insects, 1 beetle
    205           Not hungry
    245           4 meal worms, mango, water
    430           8 meal worms, water, mango
    600           5 meal worms
    700           7 meal worms

Total : 64 meal worms, 5 beetles, 6 random bugs, pellets, mango, 3 June bugs       

    

Day 11 Project Baby Mot Mot

July 4

Hoople is getting interested in his surroundings now. He notices sounds of other birds, dogs in the neighborhood, loud speakers, and flying insects. I decided it was time to try him on a some other insects, so offered him a fly, a spider, and a random bug. He actually gobbled all 3 down. I continue to give him water with an eye dropper and slivers of mango.

His feathers are fully in now and most pin feathers are gone.

     Feeding Schedule

     740am      Tiny lizard, random bug, 4 meal worms

     820           8 meal worms

     910           9 meal worms, mango, water

     950           7 meal worms, mango, water

     1040         6 meal worms, spider

     1140         1 meal worm

     1240pm     1 meal worm

     140            5 meal worms 

     240            2 1/2 earthworms, 5 meal worms

     340            9 meal worms, 1 fly, water

     450            7 meal worms, mango, water

     600            4 meal worms

     710            8 meal worms, water       

     

Day Ten Project Baby Mot Mot

July 3

Hoople’s tail is starting to develop the familiar Mot Mot “racquet tail” .

He continues to enjoy a variety of insects in addition to mango.

     Feeding Schedule

     745am        1 earthworm, 6 meal worms, mango
     825             6 meal worms, mango
     930             1 lizard
     1010           6 meal worms, 1 lizard, banana, mango
     1110           2 meal worms, banana, mango
     1135           2 small earthworms, 4 meal worms, water
     100pm        3 beetles
     200             5 meal worms
     310             4 meal worms, 2 earthworms, mango, water
     400             6 meal worms
     515             1 (lg) beetle, 16 meal worms!
     645             9 meal worms, pellets
     745             9 meal worms

Total : 73 meal worms, 5 earthworms, 2 lizards, 4 beetles
          
     

     

Day Nine Project Baby Mot Mot

July 2

Hoople is getting used to being fed while in his “cage” rather that me holding him. He’s funny—when he’s had enough he just turns around and marches back into his “tunnel”! 

This morning he was frantic! He was all the way in back  and behind a bit of the paper bag that lines his nesting tunnel. Convinced he couldn’t get out he cried and cried until I moved it over and he rushed out toward me!

His meals are more varied lately and he does not need to eat as often.

     Feeding Schedule
     730am    3 earthworms, 5 meal worms, water
     845        6 earthworms, water
     950        7 meal worms, soaked pellets
     1100      4 earthworms, 1 meal worm, water
     1200pm  1 1/2 lizard, water
     1250      1/2 lizard, 4 earthworms, water
     150        5 earthworms
     225        1 meal worm, mango
     350        1 lizard, water, mango
     450        5 meal worms, 2 earthworms, water, mango, pellets
     550        4 lg earthworms
     700        8 meal worms, mango, pellets, water

Total : 27 meal worms, 28 earthworms, 3 lizards, mango, water

Day Eight Project Baby Mot Mot

July 1

Hoople has moved on from a diet of meal worms to one of earthworms and lizards today! We cut off the heads and then cut the body into chunks. He LOVES them! I am still feeding him with the tweezers, and use them as a sort of scoop for the mushy pellets.

     Feeding Schedule
     800am        3 earthworms, soaked pellets, mango
     840             2 meal worms
     915             3 meal worms, pellets
     1015           1 small lizard, soaked pellets, water
     1130           2 lizards
     1pm            9 meal worms, 1 piece of lizard, water
     230             1 meal worm
     400             4 earthworms
     430             Soaked pellets, mango
     530             9 meal worms, 1 small earthworm
     700             8 meal worms, mango

Total : 32 meal worms, 3 1/2 lizards, 8 earthworms, mango, pellets, water

      

Day Seven Project Baby Mot Mot

June 30

Hoople’s appetite seems to be changing. He is eating fewer meal worms—loves the mango—although I am reluctant to let him have too much. I’ve been coaching him along with mango soaked worms to peck at. Today we found he loves earthworms and even ate a cricket! I should note the food is live, and he is learning to hit it on the floor to stun/kill it? He takes water from a dropper, especially in the heat. 

Today he is very interested in his surroundings—pecking at his “tunnel“ and the floor, as if looking for food. 

     Feeding Schedule

     

     730am       4 meal worms

     800            6 meal worms, mango

     900            3 meal worms, mango

     935            6 meal worms, mango

     1030         (Not hungry)

     1100          2 meal worms

     1230pm     6 meal worms

     145            3 meal worms

     300            3 meal worms

     445            Very small piece of cucumber, soaked insect pellets

     600            4 earthworms, 1 cricket, soaked pellets

     700            2 earthworms, 2 meal worms, mango

           

   

Day Six Project Baby Mot Mot

June 29

Hoople is getting more and more brave. I've begun setting him on the tile floor and letting him explore a bit. He can really hop!

He has begun flexing his wings now--testing them.

Hoople loves to crawl up my chest to my neck and nestle there.

He ate some worms from a mango skin today.

     Feeding Schedule
     715am      8 meal worms
     800          3 meal worms
     855          6 meal worms
     940          8 meal worms, mango
     1030        5 meal worms, mango
     1150        6 meal worms, water
     100pm     6 meal worms, mango, water
     205          4 meal worms
     250          6 meal worms, mango, water
     400          5 meal worms, water
     500          6 meal worms
     550          4 meal worms, water
     640          4 meal worms, water
     750          4 meal worms, water
     800          2 meal worms

Total : 77 meal worms, mango, water          

Day Five Project Baby Mot Mot

June 28

Hoople makes contented little coos while sleeping. These escalate to loud frantic cries when I begin to trill and coo, signaling feeding time. He has a great appetite today and appreciates drops of water to wash down the worms.

Tried a slice of mango skin with pulp shredded a bit, and worms wedged in between. Hoople was able to retrieve and pick some mango too.

     Feeding Schedule

     730am 4 meal worms, water

     740 3 meal worms, water

     800 3 meal worms, water

     840 5 meal worms, water, mango

     940 3 meal worms, water

     1015 4 meal worms, water

     1045 6 meal worms, water

     1115 3 meal worms, mango on his own

     1150 4 meal worms, water

     1220pm 2 meal worms, mango, water

     120 4 meal worms, 1 in his mango on his own, water

     245 6 meal worms, water

     320 3 meal worms, lg piece mango, all on his own

     420 4 meal worms, water

     500 5 meal worms

     600 6 meal worms

     7 8 meal worms

     750 6 meal worms

Total: 78 meal worms, mango, water

Day Four of Project Baby Mot Mot

June 27

Hoople is strong and active today.

He attacks mango when put before him. Still not quick enough to grab his own worm from a mango before it crawls away though. He eats voraciously then falls right back asleep.

Quite vocal when he hears my "coo".

I have noticed that as the day progresses, Hoople eats less. He also is not needing to be fed as often.

     Feeding Schedule

     745am      6 meal worms and water
     800          3 meal worms
     900          4 meal worms and water
     1005        6 meal worms
     1100        6 meal worms
     1145        5 meal worms and water 
     1215pm    5 meal worms, mango, water
     115          5 meal worms, mango
     150          2 meal worms, mango
     250          4 meal worms, mango
     335          4 meal worms, mango, water
     415          2 meal worms, water
     510          3 meal worms, water
     630          4 meal worms
     730          4 meal worms, water

Day Three of Project Baby Mot Mot

June 26

Hoople woke up very hungry today! Ate 6 meal worms in less than 5 minutes! Then fell asleep on my chest, then fell asleep on my chest. He is losing the "pins" on his feathers...my dress is covered with feather dust! 

Began offering Hoople a shallow lid of mango and juice/water with some insectivore pellets.

His eyes are open now!!

He is getting used to being fed while in his tunnel instead of always being held. I feed him using tweezers as mama's beak,

     725am  6 meal worms +water
     820       6 meal worms +water
     9           6 meal worms
     920       1 meal worms  +water
     945       4 meal worms  +water
     1010     3 meal worms +mango, water, pellets
     11         3 meal worms +mango
     1125      3 meal worms
     1210pm  5 meal worms
     1250      5 meal worms
     150        2 meal worms
     225        3 meal worms
     310        2 meal worms
     325        3 meal worms
     345        2 meal worms
     530        4 meal worms
     625        3 meal worms mango, water
     730        6 meal worms

Total : 65 meal worms + mango, pellets and water drops

Day Two of Project Baby Mot Mot

June 25

Baby was quiet - although did respond to my "coo" at 6am (just checkin ') - until 7:45 am, when he frantically ate 3 meal worms, then contentedly lay on my chest in his flannel blanket, my hand loosely cupped over him.

12pm

Just met with Dr. Julio, a local vet, who said I am doing everything right so far! He said the lil bird should be fed at the rate of 12 insects per hour. He can also be fed small amounts of mango (native to our area) as well as drops of water. As the day progresses though he is eating less. He ate only 2 meal worms at his last 2 feedings. The Mot Mot is primarily an insectivore, eating about 85% protein from insects, worms, small lizards and pinky mice, and 12% fruit with a small amount of other vegetation.

There has been some discussion around town that he should be "put back in his nest" if the woman who found him can find the tunnel. She thinks she may have found it  but no sign of the parents. At this point I think it would be disastrous, as how would you ever get him back far enough in a (possibly) 14 ft. tunnel? 

My husband, Craig has come up with a name ... Hoople the Mot (after Mott the Hoople)

     Feeding Schedule
     745am 3 meal worms
     8 3 meal worms
     825 3 meal worms
     9 3 meal worms
     930 4 meal worms
     1005 4 meal worms
     1030 4 meal worms
     1130 6 meal worms
     1215pm 4 meal worms
     1 6 meal worms +2 drops water and some mango
     140 6 meal worms + water and mango
     220 5 meal worms + water and mango
     250 4 meal worms + water
     340 4 meal worms + water
       424 4 meal worms + water
     5 2 meal worms
     530 5 meal worms
     620 2 meal worms
     830 2 meal worms

Total: 74 meal worms, very small amount of mango shreds and several drops of water

Project Baby MotMot

June 24

Today I received a baby Russet Crowned Momotidae (Mot Mot) at 6pm. A neighbor found him on the ground, in a friend's garden. I am challenged to attempt to raise him and release him back into the wild.

This baby has some pinfeathers and some bare skin--the head is reddish brown, the body is teal green, darker green wings and bluish tail feathers. Since his eyes are not open yet I estimate he is about 13 days old. We created a container to represent his nesting chamber from a large coffee can lined with a paper bag, to approximate his "nesting tunnel" and to facilitate cleaning. The container is placed in a small dog carrier for safety. Mot Mots dig a long tunnel, sometimes as deep as 14 ft. into cliff sides, with a larger chamber at the back here 4-5 eggs are laid. The tunnels are dug during the months of August-October, with the parents returning in April-May to lay their eggs. The birds fledge at 3-5 weeks.

I learned that the babe's begging instinct is activated by a low trilling coo from the parent (parents share equally in creating the nest as well as feeding the young). When I imitated that sound (to the best of my ability) Yes! he began to beg with mouth wide open. This became my signal that it was feeding time.

The birds are insectivores, so, of course, one challenge will be finding food as well as teaching him (later) to find his own. Luckily the friend who found him has a compost heap that breeds lots of meal worms, so we will start with those. At 7:30pm, I sounded the trill and he opened his mouth wide to receive 2 meal worms. 

He loves to be loosely wrapped in a soft blanket and held against my chest-staying warm and contented.

9pm he ate 4 meal worms and slept in his container right next to my bed.