After two years of failed eggs, tawny owls Luna & Bomber finally welcome their very own chicks to the nest. But the journey to ensure their safe arrival is a tough one.

Date filmed: January April 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...  

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ABOUT THIS FILM
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Finding a nest
In early January Luna & Bomber return to their favourite owl box, but there are signs a barn owl has been here.

Barn owl squatters
Barn owls Gylfie and Dryer have been using the nest. A scuffle ensues but the barn owls don't stay to fight.

Tawny owls settle in
With the barn owls gone, Bomber & Luna inspect the nest and Luna scrapes a hollow for her expected eggs.

Luna lays 1st egg
By early March, the first egg is laid. Tawny owls incubate as soon as the eggs are laid and so glimpses are rare.

Barn owls return
But that night, whilst Luna is out, the barn owls return. Whilst her partner Dryer keeps watch, Gylfie taps the egg this is fascinating behaviour.

Intruders
Then an unknown male tawny owl appears. Thankfully Bomber is nearby and quickly flies to Luna's aid. But the drama’s not over yet. Gylfie’s returns and she heads straight in. A vicious fight ensues, but Luna will do everything to keep her egg safe.

More tawny eggs
Sixtyfive hours after the first, Luna reveals a second egg!

Snow blows into the nest
But the weather’s taken a turn and as Luna lays her third egg and fourth eggs snow blows in.

Incubation
Now Luna has finished laying, the tawny owls have the long task of incubation. For the next month, Bomber will provide for Luna while she keep the eggs warm… and protects them from danger.

Kestrel invader
And there is plenty to keep her busy. Watch her see off Jeff, a young male kestrel, who is also interested in her nest!

Jackdaw attack
And jackdaws. This fight to protect the tawny owl eggs is brutal.

Chick calls from inside egg
By the 6th of April, Luna has been brooding for over a month. Then the nest fills with the sound of a chick calling from inside the egg… and Luna calls back.

Hatching process
The chick uses its egg tooth… a temporary, sharp projection on its beak, to pierce the air sac inside the shell. There’s only a small reserve of air inside, so now it uses the egg tooth again to ‘pip’ open the egg, making small holes as it rotates, a bit like a can opener.

Chick emerges
Soon the crack extends all the way across, letting air inside… and reenergised, the chick slowly makes its way into the world.

First tiny wings wiggle from the shell. Next, it leverages its back onto the floor and pushes it legs up, then rolls its shoulders against the top until it can pull a leg out. Watch it then kick both legs agaist the wall of the shell to break it.

When the chick finally emerges it's exhausted.

Tawny family
After two years of failed clutches, it’s heartwarming to watch Luna tuck the hatchling under her feathers.

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

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CHAPTERS
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00:00 Introduction
00:46 Nest hunting
02:25 Barn owl squatters
03:24 Tawny owls settle in
04:30 First egg laid
06:59 Barn owls sneak in
08:28 More intruders
09:46 Bomber's role
11:04 More eggs
14:32 Incubation
15:04 Kestrel intruder
16:51 Jackdaw attack
19:37 Chick hatches
23:37 Luna has her very own chick at last
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© Robert E Fuller

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