After two years of failure, tawny owls Luna & Bomber in spite of everything welcome their own chicks to the nest. However the adventure to make sure their secure arrival is a tricky one.
Discovering a nest
In early January Luna & Bomber go back to their favorite owl field, however there are indicators a barn owl has been right here.
Barn owl squatters
Barn owls Gylfie and Dryer were the use of the nest. A scuffle ensues however the barn owls don’t keep to combat.
Tawny owls settle in
With the barn owls long gone, Bomber & Luna check up on the nest and Luna scrapes a hole for her anticipated eggs.
Luna lays 1st egg
By means of early March, the primary egg is laid. Tawny owls incubate as quickly because the eggs are laid and so glimpses are uncommon.
Barn owls go back
However that night time, while Luna is out, the barn owls go back. While her spouse Dryer helps to keep watch, Gylfie faucets the egg- that is attention-grabbing behaviour.
Intruders
Then an unknown male tawny owl seems. Fortunately Bomber is close by and temporarily flies to Luna’s help. However the drama’s no longer over but. Gylfie’s returns and she or he heads instantly in. A vicious combat ensues, however Luna will do the whole thing to stay her egg secure. Extra tawny eggs Sixty-five hours after the primary, Luna unearths a 2nd egg!
Snow blows into the nest
However the climate’s taken a flip and as Luna lays her 3rd egg and fourth eggs snow blows in.
Incubation
Now Luna has completed laying, the tawny owls have the lengthy job of incubation. For the following month, Bomber will supply for Luna whilst she stay the eggs heat… and protects them from risk.
Kestrel invader
And there’s masses to stay her busy. Watch her see off Jeff, a tender male kestrel, who could also be involved in her nest!
Jackdaw assault
And jackdaws. This combat to offer protection to the tawny owl eggs is brutal.
Chick calls from inside of egg
By means of the sixth of April, Luna has been brooding for over a month. Then the nest fills with the sound of a chick calling from throughout the egg… and Luna calls again.
Hatching procedure
The chick makes use of its egg enamel… a short lived, sharp projection on its beak, to pierce the air sac throughout the shell. There’s just a small reserve of air inside of, so now it makes use of the egg enamel once more to ‘pip’ open the egg, making small holes because it rotates, a bit of like a can opener.
Chick emerges
Quickly the crack extends all of the manner throughout, letting air inside of… and reenergised, the chick slowly makes its manner into the sector.
First tiny wings wiggle from the shell.
Subsequent, it leverages its again onto the ground and pushes it legs up, then rolls its shoulders towards the highest till it could pull a leg out. Watch it then kick each legs agaist the wall of the shell to wreck it. When the chick in spite of everything emerges it’s exhausted.
Tawny circle of relatives
After two years of failed clutches, it’s heartwarming to look at Luna tuck the hatchling below her feathers.