Two tawny owl chicks adopted by Bomber & Luna have an eventful first few days as they settle in to their new lives. Watch as they are fussed over by their adopted mum Luna, meet their new dad Bomber for the first time, and are almost trapped into their nest by the neighbouring jackdaws.
Luna's love
These tawny owl chicks couldn't have joined a more loving foster family. Their adopted mum Luna is so delighted to have them, she sweeps them under her wing the moment she sees them. But Luna, who has just lost her own eggs, doesn't realise that these chicks are actually 2 weeks old and can regulate their own temperature.
Tawny owl dinner time
They don't need brooding, but they do need food and it isn't long before they meet their new owl dad, Bomber. Bomber is very curious to meet them, but mum Luna barely lets him near her new charges and instead sends him straight back out the door to fetch more food for the chicks. 02:14 - Danger Outside But the owl chicks have only been there one night when a pair of jackdaws arrive and begin to fill the entrance with sticks, threatening to trap the new family in their nest forever. Despite being a ferocious species, tawny owl Luna does not fight off the jackdaws. There is a tense stand off, but the jackdaws ignore her and return with more sticks. I suspect Luna isn't aware of the consequences of their actions because she is remarkably passive.
Intervention
After watching the owl family slowly get trapped into their nest on my live cameras, I decide to intervene, opening the back of the nest so that Luna can escape. I unblock the nest entrance and wait an anxious two hours for Luna to return.
Luna Returns
Thankfully, this tawny owl mum does return and gets straight back to the job of brooding these two owl chicks. She also helps Bomber with hunting! 05:50 - Chicks Developing Well Under the care of their new parents, the chicks are developing so well. They're standing, playing and even flapping their wings!
An Unexpected Catch
The chicks are growing so fast and need a lot of food! Luna head's out to hunt and brings in an unconventional prey item, a young leveret! I've watched Bomber and Luna hunting leverets before, but I've never seen them bring one into the nest. This provides a hearty meal for the chicks!
#tawnyowls #owls #robertefuller
