Tawny Owls Overcome Tragic Losses to Lay New Eggs at Ash Wood

The tawny owl chicks are due to hatch any day now. Keep an eye on my Ash Wood livestream for a chance to watch them emerge from their eggshells live: https://youtu.be/WHepzks9ksQ

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As we wait for the tawny owl chicks to hatch, this latest film takes a look back at the incredible story of how this tawny owl pair overcame a series of tragic losses to lay two precious eggs.
OZZY & BONNIE
This is the dramatic story of the impressive survival instincts of tawny owls, Ozzy & Bonnie. Named by fans on the Ash Wood livestream, these owls really are a resilient pair. They've endured threats from jackdaws, the ruin of their first nest - and eggs-, and extreme weather conditions, to get this far.
TRAGIC LOSS
The clutch of two eggs Bonnie is currently incubating is actually her second clutch of the season. Her first eggs tragically dropped out of her nest, a wild nest not on camera, after a squirrel gnawed through the base.
SURPRISE SECOND BROOD
Tawny owls aren't generally known to lay two clutches in a season and I had resolved not to expect any tawny owl chicks this year, but to my surprise she moved into the nest box I made for her and Ozzy at Ash Wood and laid another two.
THE SCIENCE
I was so surprised to see the female tawny lay a second clutch that I looked it up. I read that tawny's can lay again if their clutch is lost while the female is still incubating. Thankfully for this pair, this was the case.
ASH HOLLOW
Ash Hollow is the name of the box I made especially for this pair. Fashioned from a natural hollow in an ash tree with a piece of tree bark secured across the entrance, it is unusual because there is a one metre drop from the entrance to the nest.
TAWNY CHICKS
I made it this way to make sure the tawny chicks don't fall out. Tawny owl chicks are notorious for trying to fledge before they are ready and I have seen too many accidents happen like this. It's not very easy to land elegantly from this height though! Look out for a clumsy landing by Bonnie!
ASH WOOD
I made Ash Hollow for this tawny owl back in January as part of my development of Ash Wood. Read more about this project here: https://www.robertefuller.com/diary/the-animals-of-ash-wood/. Unfortunately, despite seeming very keen on the box to begin with, this tawny pair chose to nest in the wild nest where they tragically lost their eggs.
TAWNY OWL SOUNDS
Enjoy listening to the beautiful sounds of tawny owls calling back and forth to one another on this video. You will hear the male, Ozzy's, 'ocarina', reverberating call to his mate, Bonnie when he discovers Ash Hollow.
TAWNY OWL COURTSHIP
The film also reveals the remarkable tenderness of this courting pair. Watch how lovingly they groom one another. This is an important part of their bonding process and ensures the couple stay together to raise their chicks.
TAWNY OWL HUNTING
Ozzy the male is a very attentive mate and he responds very quickly to Bonnie's call for food as she incubates her first egg. But it takes the female tawny owl to spot a more substantial meal: a rat. Look out for the hilarious moment the rat evades her grasping talons!
LOOK FOR THE CHICKS
I'm expecting the chicks to hatch out from tomorrow, Friday, May 28th. Keep your eye on the livestreams for a chance to see this action live; https://youtu.be/WHepzks9ksQ

#robertefuller #tawnyowl #eggs

I am a British wildlife artist based in Thixendale, North Yorkshire, UK. I build ideal habitats to encourage wildlife into my garden and use nest cams to study their behaviour. These studies inform my paintings. I share the best of my video research on this channel for free. If you would like to support my work please consider a small donation here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=A52ZHAMJZC3J4

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© Robert E Fuller

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Видео Tawny Owls Overcome Tragic Losses to Lay New Eggs at Ash Wood канала Robert E Fuller