This is the story of a wild tawny owl named Luna who's eggs fail to hatch and it has a very happy ending.
Watch Luna & Bomber interact live on my nest cam: • Live From Fotherdale |... and follow their story in this playlist: • Tawny Owls 🦉 Luna & Bo...
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ABOUT THIS FILM
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Luna's story
The story begins in January as Luna and her mate Bomber look for somewhere to nest. This owl couple are an established pair and nested here at my home in North Yorkshire last year, when their eggs sadly failed.
Beech stump
Beech stump is an owl box I made (from an old beech stump) many years ago and is where Luna grew up. Ironically, Luna is herself a fostered owl and back in 2017 I placed her in this box with a wild tawny owl pair who raised her as their own.
Nest revamp
But since Bomber & Luna were here, I have made some renovations and the owl pair seem surprised at how it has changed. They seem to like it and it isn't long before Luna begins scraping out a hollow into the sawdust. This will do for an egg.
Fighting off competition
The newly restored nest has caught the eye of a few other birds too and Luna and Bomber have to see off barn owl Gylfie before they can settle down to making it their home.
Nesting
Tawny owls make their nests in holes in trees, and both male and females scrape out the hollows the eggs will sit in. Luna also seems to like to add her own touches. I see her picking off bits of bark and making home improvements.
Egg laying
By mid-May, Luna lays her first egg. But as she broods it a jackdaw and then a kestrel land at then entrance. Luna stays calm. Tawny owls lay eggs every two to three days… and even with disturbance from jackdaws outside… 64 hours later she’s laid a second egg. And then a third, 64 hours after that. Her clutch of three is now complete.
Incubation
Tawny owls incubate their eggs for approximately 30 days and as Luna broods the clutch Bomber drops in with regular food deliveries.
Then tragedy starts
But a month later, in spite of Luna’s constant brooding there are no signs of hatching and it becomes clear that yet again Luna's eggs have failed.
And Luna is trapped
To make matters worse, the jackdaws have returned… this time, bringing nesting material into the entrance. Within hours, the nest entrance is full of sticks. And Luna is trapped inside.
Hope
Meanwhile, I get a call about two owl chicks found on the ground at a nearby farm. They’ve fallen from their nest in a straw stack. Without warmth and food these chicks could perish in a matter of hours.
Owlets get intensive care
I have to act quickly to keep these chicks alive. There’s no choice but to rescue them. Back at base, the chicks are fed. It’s never nice to take an animal out of the wild, but this really was the only option.
A plan hatches
Luna is the ideal foster mother for these two. She's still preparing for those eggs to hatch, so she’s full of maternal hormones.
But first I have to release her
Meanwhile, in the nest, Luna is still trapped. If I don’t remove the sticks she will die. I remove the back of the nest. And with her gone, the nest can be cleared.
Luna meets her new chicks
Luna rushes in and envelopes the two chicks, brooding them instantly. It's almost as though she was expecting them.
Next time
Keep an eye on my channel to watch the chicks meet foster dad Bomber and get ready for their first flights.
ABOUT ME
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I am a British wildlife artist and filmmaker on a mission to share my love for wildlife with the world. As well as creating detailed animal film and art portraits, I promote wildlife tours around the world and do all I can to help conserve and protect wildlife here at my home in Yorkshire. I hope that by putting nature in the frame I can foster a deep love for wildlife amongst my followers.
You may like to purchase my artwork which you can find on my website: www.robertefuller.com. Many of my paintings are portraits of the wonderful characters you watch here!
You can also follow me on these platforms:
Website: www.robertefuller.com
Facebook: / robertefullerart
Twitter: / robertefuller
Instagram: / robertefuller
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© Robert E Fuller
Copyright Disclaimer: Please feel free to share my videos but do not download any content without permission with the intent to re-upload. If you would like to license any content, please get in touch: mail@robertefuller.com
#robertefuller #tawnyowl #owl #wildlives #lunaandbomber
26 май 2022
