Barn Owls' Legacy of Love | Full Story | Gylfie & Finn | Robert E Fuller

The love between barn owls Gyflie & Finn was indisputable. This pair were inseparable, as to devoted to each other as they were to their chicks. And this legacy lived on in their chicks, even after devoted owl dad Finn sadly died.

Date filmed: January - September 2022

Watch barn owls interact live on my nest cams: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx09JDaWUEFM-u8Q8V11cI1Ghk_-byaPM&si=IiuGt5h53H2k4qUx and https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx09JDaWUEFPocIUijCjOMU5rY8a_QugD&si=Yy9nmOelo4f2x1R2] and keep following Gylfie's story in this playlist:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx09JDaWUEFPGeo0NropB21-UI0PIagx3

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*ABOUT THIS FILM*
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Securing a nest
The story begins in January 2022 as these barn owls earch for the perfect nest. Female Gylfie dithers and the pressure mounts as kestrels and tawny owls begin taking the best spots. Eventually there's only one option left, a nest box I madem from old elm tree stump.

Courtship
Despite being an established pair, this owl couple must renew their bonds, and their fresh devotion is touching - Finn seems reluctant to leave Gylfie’s side.

Owl eggs
In May Gylfie lays her first egg, then one every two-to-three-days until she has four. Unlike some birds of prey, barn owl eggs are incubated as soon as they’re laid and so Gylfie begins the long process, whilst Finn brings her food.

Chicks hatch
After a month of incubation, the first chick hatches. Then another two. One egg fails to hatch and Gylfie discards it.

Chicks grow
As the chicks grow, their characters develop. Viewers of this channel nickname them Freya, Griffin and Fern, from eldest to youngest. With eight days between them there’s quite a size difference. As Freya grows, she becomes quite fiesty, rudely snatching food from her parents.

Drought
A heatwave strikes and the countryside quickly dries up. Water is scarce and the wildlife begins to seek out animal water troughs in the surrounding farmland.

RIP Finn
When Finn doesn't turn up one day, I search more than 20 troughs and find him tragically drowned.

Supporting the owl family
Now that Gylfie must care for the chicks alone, I help out with food deliveries.

Chicks show affection
After their father dies, I notice an unusual bond developing between the barn owl chicks. Where normally I would expect them to compete for food, the trio begin to share.

ID rings
At seven weeks, the chicks are tagged. Now it will be possible to trace them through the rest of their lives.

Gylfie gets a new mate
As the chicks become more independent, I notice Gylfie spends more time away. It is soon clear she has a new mate. We check this male owls' ID ring and discover he is a rescued owl who grew up here at Fotherdale - alongside Finn!

Fledging
At the end of July, Freya fledges the nest, followed over the following weeks by Griffin and Fern. Freya, Griffin and Fern have come a long way since they were tiny owls and have had to overcome the loss of their father.

After such a start, it is so wonderful to watch these chicks fly free and strong.

*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: https://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: https://www.robertefuller.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobertEFullerArt/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobertEFuller
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RobertEFuller/

*CHAPTERS*
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00:20 – Nest hunt
02:21 – Territorial battles
05:29 – Courtship
08:36 – Egg laying & brooding
16:36 – Chicks hatch
24:32 – Chicks developing
29:25 – Finn dies
31:42 – Robert helps feed
33:53 – Heatwave continues
34:53 – ID ringing
38:08 – Gylfie as single parent
39:10 – Oldest chick Freya fledges
40:50 – Gylfie's new male
41:43 – Last barn owl chick leaves nest
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© Robert E Fuller

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