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.
Securing a nest
The story begins in January 2022 as these barn owls search 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 made from old elm tree stump. 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. 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 feisty, rudely snatching food from her parents.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. Now that Gylfie must care for the chicks alone, I help out with food deliveries.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.
2 comments
Can someone tell me how finn drowned? Did he slip in and just can’t fly out of the water? My lil heart so hurt about him 💔
I came across your beautiful owls this morning 4/27/26. When I was younger my mother dated a man and his name was Al. She was so in love with him. One day Al went to work, and he got killed by a truck. Well, after losing him, my mother started collecting and watching anything she could on the bird OWL . For some odd reason it reminded her of her mate she lost. So growing up, I took to loving owls as well. When my mother passed, I moved to Florida. Then I lost my daughter and granddaughter on May 20, 2020. I was renting a home that had trees all around it. Every night I would here a owl hooting outside. So, one night I go out and 2 of them were on the power line directly in front of my home looking straight at me, hooting. I told my son, there is your granny and sister watching over us. It sure is a calming feeling watching your beautiful owls. I want to thank you so much for sharing them with all of us!