Mom Owl Elated To Find Baby Owlets In Her Nest After Her Eggs Never Hatched

Rescuers pulled the ol' switcharoo on Mom Owl after she had 2 failed clutches

Kylin

• Published in Animals
• May 18, 2022

Over the course of these last two years, a tawny owl couple, Luna and Bomber, have tried to become parents. Unfortunately, Luna and Bomber’s first clutch never hatched.

Robert E. Fuller, a British wildlife rehabilitator, noted after their loss, that “very rarely, tawny owls will try again.” So when the pair of tawny owls began to search for a new nest site, Fuller was hopeful.

Imagine the excitement when Fuller saw Luna laying an egg in their new nest earlier this year. She laid a total of 3 eggs with her most recent clutch.

But once again, poor Luna and Bomber faced another loss, with their second clutch failing to hatch. “Not only did her eggs fail to hatch this year, but she also lost her clutch last year,” Fuller shared.

So when Fuller was alerted about two tawny owl chicks that were orphaned, he immediately thought of Luna. Knowing of her repeated, heartbreaking losses and obvious desire for motherhood, he decided to match the orphaned owlets with the bereaved owls.

The owlets were placed inside Luna and Bomber’s nest while they were out hunting. Now he just had to wait to see if Luna would welcome the owlet fosters as her own.

Continue scrolling to read about what happened next (though I'm sure the title gives that away), and see the pictures and videos of Luna, Bomber, and the owlets.

Luna captured on camera laying a third egg with her second clutch

Fuller placed two orphaned owlets in Luna's nest and waited for her return

Luna immediately jumped into Mom-mode when she discovered her foster owlets

Her response relieved Fuller and all those who were invested in her story. Luna and the orphaned owlets both suffered considerable loss in order to be brought together.

Luna's reaction to her babies makes me cry every time

She wanted to have babies so bad! So she tried again, and it failed again!

And then one day she comes to her nest and she has babies!!

She nuzzled and cuddled with her owlets, tucking them under her wings, finally a Mom

In spite of the heartbreaking loss the owlets and Luna have faced, their pairing was nothing short of miraculous.

Look at her literally beaming with joy

“This means that after a long wait, Luna the tawny owl is finally a mum,” Fuller wrote.

Luna's mate, Bomber, soon discovered Luna and their new foster owlets

His reaction looks very similar to shocked Pikachu

I cannot get over Bomber giving Luna nuzzles over their owlets

Me watching the new owl parents nuzzle each other with their fosters

The foster owlets were named Dawn & Dusk

Fuller put their names to a vote on his website, and the majority ruled for Dusk & Dawn.

Dusk & Dawn pictured on their Ringing Day

"Pictured is British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) bird ringer Jean Thorpe clipping identification rings onto the legs of the two fostered tawny owl chicks in Luna's nest."

Dusk & Dawn trying to figure out how to get out of their nest to explore

One quickly figured out how to hop into the entrance easily, but the other one couldn't quite figure out how their sibling did that.

Watch the moment Luna discovered her foster owlets

They also got a video of Bomber (Dad) seeing everyone for the first time, too!

Look how sweet Bomber is with his foster owlets while Luna is out

Watch Dusk & Dawn figure out how to get out of the nest

Dawn & Dusk stretch their wings and take off for their first flight

It is amazing to see wild animals overcome what can only be described as happiness by becoming a parent. It's easy to think that the desire to become a parent is innately human, but Luna's reaction to finding two owlets in her nest is irrefutable proof.

No matter how many times I watch the video of her rushing to her new babies side, (or honestly even thinking about it), I literally cry happy tears every time. You can see how much she truly wanted those babies.

Bless the rehabbers who have been keeping watch on these owls and bringing so much joy to their (and our) lives. This story needs to be shared far and wide to bring just an ounce of the joy Luna experienced, so make sure you share it with your friends and family.

Kylin