Film | Tawny Owls’ Long Battle for Chicks of Their Own | Luna & Bomber

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 owls Gylfie and Dryer have been using the nest. A scuffle ensues but the barn owls don’t stay to fight. 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. 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 Sixty-five hours after the first, Luna reveals a second egg! But now the weather takes 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. And there is plenty to keep her busy. Watch her see off Jeff, a young male kestrel, who is also interested in her nest! 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. 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. Soon the crack extends all the way across, letting air inside… and reenergised, the chick slowly makes its way into the world. 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 against 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 heart warming to watch Luna tuck the hatchling under her feathers.