After two years of failed eggs, tawny owls Luna & Bomber finally had two chicks of their own, but this didn't stop them also taking four extra rescues.

Date filmed: 2023

Watch tawny owls Bomber & Luna interact live on my nest cam:    • Live From Fotherdale | Robert E Fuller   and follow their story in this playlist:    • Tawny Owls  Luna & Bomber | Wild Liv...  

JOIN MY MISSION
____________________

You can support my wildlife rehabilitation and conservation work by donating here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s... or joining one of my supporter communities: https://www.robertefuller.com/support...

ABOUT THIS FILM
____________________

Bomber & Luna are no strangers to adversity, but their journey to raise chicks of their own is a tough one.

Fight for safe arrival
First, they must fight off competition for their favourite nest site and keep on fighting even once their eggs are laid. Watch the pair see off kestrels, jackdaws and barn owls including resident owl Gylfie!

1st egg hatches
But nothing will stop this pair from following their instincts and the cameras hidden inside the nest capture the incredible process as the first chick emerges from its egg, using it's eggtooth (a special adaptation to its beak) to crack through the shell.

A brood of two
But sadly just two out of the four eggs hatch out the first and fourth eggs to be laid.

Bomber gets a look in
Luna is very protective of her owlets and not even their father, Bomber is allowed near them. It is more than a week before he gets a moment alone with them and when he does it is adorable to watch.

Naming the owlets
Viewers of this channel take part in a poll to name the two owlets. The winning names are Rocket and Nova.

Tawny owl chicks develop fast
At 10 days old, the eldest chick, Rocket, has its first pin feathers and by 16 days it is already flapping its wings furiously.

A new addition
Then a rescued tawny owl chick is brought to Fotherdale and I place it into the nest with Rocket & Nova. Happily Bomber & Luna accept their new foster chick and the owlet is named, appropriately, Solar.

Bird ID rings for all the chicks
Registered ringer Jean Thorpe, gives all the chicks ID rings so that they can be tracked throughout their lives.

First flights
After a month in the nest, Rocket makes a first leap out of the nest and spends the night outside on the branch. Now Bomber & Luna stay close, delivering food to this owlet on the nearby branches, whilst also continuing to feed Nova and Solar in the nest. Nova & Solar follow suit

MORE rescues
The owls are out of the nest when a second rescue arrives. I keep to the theme and name this owlet Pluto. I place Pluto in the now empty nest and wait for Bomber & Luna to take over. But then I get two more tawny owlets. These two are old enough to go straight into the tree canopy near the other owlets.

Stock dove
Although the nest is now empty, when a stock dove tries to settle there, Luna quickly evicts it. Luna's reasons for continuing to defend her now empty nest becomes clear when the tawny owl fledglings arrive to spend time back inside the nest.

What an experience watching this incredible owl pair accept new owlets into their precious family.

ABOUT ME
____________

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: https://www.robertefuller.com. Many of my paintings are portraits of the characters you watch here!

You can also follow me on these platforms:
Website: https://www.robertefuller.com
Facebook:   / robertefullerart  
Twitter:   / robertefuller  
Instagram:   / robertefuller  
Or sign up to my newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/robertefuller/news...

#robertefuller #tawnyowl #birdcams

CHAPTERS
_____________

00:00:00 Fight for nest
00:04:30 Tawny owls lay eggs
00:14:34 Incubation
00:19:36 First hatchling
00:29:22 Second hatchling
00:33:49 Owlet development
00:38:55 Adopting rescued owlet Solar
00:41:26 Ringing owlets
00:47:08 Fledging
00:54:57 More rescued tawny chicks
01:00:14 Stock doves move into nest
01:02:02 First flights
01:03:47 A fantastic season

___________________

© Robert E Fuller

Copyright Disclaimer: Please feel free to share my videos but do not download any content without permission with the intent to reupload. If you would like to license any content, please get in touch: [email protected]