Tawny owl chicks fly free, with a helping hand from me

Tawny owlets Bramble & Sage are lucky to be alive after their owl dad stopped bringing them food when they were just tiny chicks.

I'm not clear why the tawny owl dad, Ozzy, stopped providing for his family, but after seeing the tiny tawny owlets tug hungrily at their owl mum's tail feathers, I had to intervene. I began dropping food parcels into the nest to support mum Bonnie, who now had the job of having to hunt to feed her family as well as brood the tiny owlets all alone.

But despite these difficulties, and with a little help from me, the tawny owlets grew well and by three weeks they began to look happy and healthy. It was amazing to watch their flight feathers grow through and to see them flapping their young wings. When they stood up and stretched you could really see how long tawny owl legs are - an adaptation that helps this species grasp its prey when it dives to hunt.

By the time the chicks are a month old the eldest, Bramble, began to investigate the outside world. The owlet scrambled up to the entrance to the nest (which I deliberately made high because the chicks of this owl species are known to try to get out before they are ready), using its siblings head to stand on as it escaped!

Within days the adventurous owlet had hopped onto a nearby branch and now spent its days and nights hopping from branch to branch in the tree canopy. This is known as 'branching' and tawny owlets in this phase do not return to the nest but are fed by their parents in the canopy. It wasn't long before the younger owlet, Sage, followed its sibling's journey into the wild.

In spite of the fact that he had stopped providing food for his family, owl dad, Ozzy did continue to protect his chicks and could often be seen standing guard as they explored the branches around their home. Although he was nowhere to be seen when a buzzard swooped over one of the chicks! Meanwhile mum Bonnie carried on bringing the owlets dinner, feeding them on whichever branch they happened to be when she got there.

It was amazing to watch Bramble & Sage grow into confident young owls, learning from mum Bonnie how to hunt, and even enjoying dips in the pond I dug at Ash Wood.

As the leaves turned gold and autumn set in Bramble & Sage were ready to begin their lives as adults. It's been an incredible experience watching them overcome the odds and fly free.  Not only were owlet's Bramble & Sage lucky to survive sudden abandonment by dad Ozzy, but they are also very fortunate to be here at all since they are the result of Ozzy & Bonnie's second clutch - something that is very unusual for this species.

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