This year we had just three Tawny Owlets into our Raptor Hospital.
Tawny Owls are known for leaving the nest before they can fly, and exploring their surroundings by “branching”. Despite not being able to fly, they are very capable climbers, and most that fall from the tree are able to return to the canopy with a bit of effort. Even if they don’t make it all the way, Tawny Owl parents will fiercely protect their young, and continue to feed them even if they’re not exactly where they left them the previous night!
We always advise leaving them alone, but monitoring from a distance, unless they are in danger, such as on a busy path where there could be dogs, or near a road.
Our first Tawny Owlet was found on the ground by the side of a road, which clearly put it at higher risk. We advised the finder to bring it in, and it spent a few weeks being looked after by our dedicated staff.
With young birds, there is always a risk of them imprinting on us, so we try and minimise contact with them as much as possible. For this reason, the first Owlet was given a surrogate mum to cuddle with, which provides comfort for them.
Just as we were starting to wonder what to do with it, in terms of release, we got a call about a second Tawny Owlet who needed to be brought in having been found on a busy public path. And within a week, the duo were a trio, as a third owlet was brought in. It is considered best practice that young birds are reared together to limit the risk of imprinting, so whilst we’d rather not have any baby owls in, at least they could all be released together.
Once the new Owlets had been assessed and had a few days of good meals, we got in touch with Michael, who found the original owlet near his farm. He had offered us a space to install a hack pen for their release. This method of soft release works well for young birds, as they have time to get used to their surroundings before the door is opened, and food is provided for them for as long as is necessary.
We are pleased to report that on release day, the three Owlets were a bit reluctant to leave with an audience, so Michael left the door open for them. In the morning, all three had left, so we are hopeful that they have all set up territory in the woodland on his farm.
Our thanks to Michael, who allowed us to release the owls onto his land, and to the other finders who contacted us about baby owls this season.