Tawny owls Bomber and Luna warmed hearts around the world after adopting 6 orphaned owlets. This is their story.
Securing a nest
The story begins in January as this tawny owl pair search for a suitable site to start a family. When they return to the nest they used last year, they have to fight barn owl Gylfie for it. But the battle is worth it since this nest is special to Luna, this is where she grew up as a fostered owl herself. Luna goes on to lay three eggs, each exactly 64 hours apart. Look out for her owl partner Bomber's joyful reaction when he spots the first one. After 30 days of incubation, it became clear that Luna's eggs were not going to hatch. Later I shine a torch through them and see they were never viable.
Time to act & a solution
Just as a pair of jackdaws lay siege to the nest, blocking the tawny owl mum inside, I am called out to rescue two tawny owl chicks that have fallen from a straw stack. The owls need a mum, and Luna needs babies - so I open the back of the nest to let Luna out and clear the sticks. Then I place the chicks inside in the hope that she will return. Hours later Luna flies back to the nest and spots the owlets. She rushes over and engulfs them, instantly wrapping them under her wings just as if they were her own. Later Bomber also gets to meet them and his reaction is equally touching.
Jackdaws return
But the threat from the jackdaws isn't over and soon they have trapped the tawny owl family inside. Luna is visibly distressed. Without my help, all three owls would surely die.
Parents compete
Luna is so delighted to be a mum at last, she barely allows Bomber a moment with his chicks. She is so possessive over them she pushes him away whenever he arrives with food or tries to spend time with them. But with all this love and attention the chicks grow up fast and it isn't long before they are taking their first peeks outside the nest and flapping their wings, ready to fly. Before they go, BTO licenced bird ringer Jean Thorpe of Ryedale Rehabilitation arrives to clip ID rings on their legs. These are individually numbered and help keep a track of owl populations across the country.
Flying lessons
Luna takes on the role of teacher, encouraging the first chick, named Dusk by fans of the Livestream, to hop to a nearby branch before launching off into the trees. But just as Bomber & Luna's work is done, three more tawny owl chicks are handed in. Luna instantly welcomes the first, but it takes the owl parents a few days to realise there are more. Then a third rescue arrives from Doncaster. We nickname him Donny and watch with delight as he too is accepted by the family. As I watch all 6 owlets flit through the trees it's incredible to think back at their incredible journey.
