r/BeAmazed • u/MobileAerie9918 • 3d ago
Nature Infertile Tawny Owl's lifeless eggs are replaced with orphaned chicks while Tawny Owl is away
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u/youngliam 3d ago
The dead rodent stash is the equivalent of my fritolay variety pack of chips behind my couch lol
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u/NotLucasDavenport 3d ago
Hint: eat your dead rodents with chopsticks to keep fingers from getting messy!
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u/OpiumPhrogg 3d ago
Protip: If you munch on chips and other snacks at your computer, use chopsticks it will keep your fingers clean of any snack dust , hence keeping your keyboard and mouse less sticky.
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u/OkCry5073 3d ago
I do this, but for another reason. I work with machinery so my hands are filthy all day. Sometimes I want a snack like chips while working, but I don't want to touch them with my hands and eat filth. Chopsticks work great for this.
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u/SunnySoCalValGal 3d ago
Do owls not eat the whole rodent?
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u/Cael_NaMaor 3d ago
They eat them. Swallow 'em whole & then vomit up remains in a 'pellet'. Bones & such that don't digest. My guess is they were holding some for the chicks to hatch maybe. I've honestly never heard of them having extra food.
Edit: apparently the keeper added them for aid.
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u/Large_Nectarine_6564 3d ago
Ya if you rewatch they are not in the start, what a lovely caregiver. Props
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u/volstedgridban 3d ago
When feeding their chicks, birds of prey will tear the dead critters into small chunks for the chicks. The male bird typically brings back prey which he leaves whole for the female bird to either eat herself or to tear up and feed in small chunks to the chicks.
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u/Ambitious_Toe_4357 3d ago
Owls would just eat the bag whole without opening it and then regurgitate whatever can't be digested. You may wanna try that. Won't even see any orange powder.
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u/RelationshipAlive777 3d ago edited 3d ago
According to the original video, the mice were placed by the person managing the nest to help with raising the chicks. Since they would rot and become unsanitary, owls wouldn’t normally store food like this in their nest.
Edit: Seems like some owls do store food in their nests, whether to keep it for later or to prepare for their growing chicks. Thanks to everyone who shared in the comments!
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u/AnseaCirin 3d ago
Depends on the owls. Snowy owls line up their nests with dead rodents. I suppose the cold helps preserve them
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u/RelationshipAlive777 3d ago
Ah, that’s interesting!I guess it makes sense for animals in cold regions to store prey. Thanks for the info!
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u/karshyga 3d ago
Great horned owls will also cache away food to thaw out for later, which works out at the beginning of the season since they start nesting in winter. I want to say I read that one cached away like 17 pounds of food? I don't imagine it was able to feed all that out, though. Great horneds are relentless when it comes to hunting, it doesn't surprise me that they'd hoard so much.
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u/gavrielkay 3d ago
They can build up a bit of a pile as they prepare for the chicks to get really hungry. There are a few 24/7 live owl cams that show this. Basically dad hunts day and night and for a little while the chicks are too small to eat it as fast as he can catch it. But they grow so fast that they'll finish off the pantry and be begging for more soon enough.
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u/ellnhkr 3d ago
Happy 🎂 day! Enjoy some bubble🫧 wrap 😁🎁
pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!stay awesome!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!you are important!pop!pop!what you do matters!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!you are valued!pop!whoo!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!you're appreciated!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!stay strong!pop!you rock!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!you shine bright!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!boop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!happy cake day!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!never give up!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!believe in your dreams!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!you da best!pop!pop!you've got this!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!bop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!you can do anything!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!may all your wishes come true!
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u/Free-oppossums 3d ago
😅I popped at random and "give up" was wasn't on the same line as "never". I'm on mobile, using the large print setting, and it caught me off gaurd. 🤗
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u/ellnhkr 3d ago
Lol whoops. Hope you didn't give up and popped the rest!!
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u/Free-oppossums 3d ago
I did pop all of them. I had to see all the things you snuck in between the pops. Good job!
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u/mizu_fox 3d ago
Nice! It wasn't for me but still! Such a sweet bubble wrap☺️ Thank you for putting love in the 🌎
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u/jluicifer 3d ago
My tenants years ago treated their entire space like that—Frito lay heaven. Of course, Rats and mice also made it their heaven.
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u/BrightLight_16 3d ago
This made me smile. She’s like, I am going to mother you so hard.
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u/so_not 3d ago
The immediate aggressive mothering was so heartwarming. She already loves those babies fiercely.
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u/AromaticStruggle 3d ago
Aggressive mothering, lol
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u/pink_faerie_kitten 3d ago
Smothering.
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u/Here4_da_laughs 3d ago
Not a uniquely human trait apparently. I can finally blame it on genetics 😄
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u/Broken-halo27 3d ago
Aggressive mothering…. Trying to hug your teen when they aren’t being receptive to hugs! lol. This term will be placed in my mental Rolodex. It’s too good not to keep!
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u/BiNumber3 3d ago
Yea... not even a "who are you and why are you in my house" just straight to "oh guess im a mother now"
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u/Xiao1insty1e 2d ago
I saw it as she was likely very worried that her eggs were never going to hatch and she comes back to find two healthy babies and couldn't possibly be more relieved. Probably would have cried if she could.
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u/PorkshireTerrier 3d ago
also newbie chicks she's evolved to expect are like little wet crumpled napkins, these are prob a month old
It's like you get an ultrasound and when you come back from the bathroom there's a forty pound toddler... you;d have to adjust quick
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u/lokiandgoose 2d ago
One of my favorite things about these kind of 'adoption' videos is how MAD the new moms get! Like their kids were out causing a ruckus and now they're back and oh boy you better get under here right now youngsters. Kitten moms just grabbing the oprhaned kitten and aggressively cleaning it and piling with its siblings like how dare you not be in this cuddle puddle right now.
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u/Endorkend 3d ago
I imagine that that is how Rosa from Brooklyn Nine-Nine would be with her kids if she ever gets any.
Aggressively mothering.
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u/anomalyknight 3d ago
Sometimes you have no idea what's going on, but you still manage to understand the assignment.
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u/hourly_sympathy1300 3d ago
“i dont have a single clue where these kids came from but they’re mine now and i will die for them”
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u/originalcinner 3d ago
In case any y'all not crying enough yet ...
From the youtube video about these owls:
" ... after a long wait, Luna the tawny owl is finally a mum. Not only did her eggs fail to hatch this year, but she also lost her clutch last year. Luna is herself a rescue owl. And the event also brings the story round full circle since Luna is herself a rescued tawny owl, raised herself by owls here at Fotherdale who fostered her in 2017"
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u/Ill-Question-9821 3d ago edited 3d ago
Yes! This channel is so good especially this video. He narrates so well and it’s very relaxing content
This is Luna and Bombers full video ~1hr https://youtu.be/LG0y9swWgm4?si=xfTen7-aW5qvfyGc
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u/Fombleisawaggot 3d ago
Just watched the whole video, loved how they keep taking on children that appeared out of thin air for them
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u/coldestclock 3d ago
At some point the kestrel next door has to chime in. “How many kids do you guys have?” “Ah, six, I think.” “How many eggs did you lay?” “Three” “how does that work?” “I’m just that good a mother, I guess.” “>:(“
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u/GlitteringBicycle172 3d ago
Double yolks 👀
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u/Cael_NaMaor 3d ago
No lie... the way that owl moves is almost like you can see the emotion... & I swear the final glare at the camera has tears in her eyes.
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u/wolfeyes555 3d ago
Like I know we shouldn't put human characteristics on animals, but just look at the way she snuggles them so tightly. It's like she's saying "Finally. I'm finally a mother."
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u/Gigglemonkey 3d ago
Yeah, it's really hard to not anthropomorphize here. I remember right after I had my little guy, there was a rush of "this one is mine" when they finally handed him to me.
I feel like she had a similar endorphin dump.
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u/-AG-Hithae 2d ago
What part is anthropophomising? Snuggling babies isn't a uniquely human characteristic, neither is a hormone rush after giving birth. Just because most animals are non-verbal, it doesn't mean that they're also non-emotional. Humans didn't invent love, nor do we hold a monopoly on it.
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u/somegirl03 3d ago
I think I watched a longer vid on this particular owl and her mate, how they were being used as foster parents because the female owl always accepted babies no matter how old they were.
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u/Queen_of_Antiva 3d ago
I think it was one of those videos when i said to myself "I'll only watch a minute or two" but ended watching the entire hour long video on owls haha
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u/huskeya4 2d ago
Yep Luna is her name. She was a foster herself and she took in six hatchlings of various ages in her first egg laying year. Very generous momma.
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u/BBuff89 3d ago
I’m a 62 year old dude sitting on my couch and this made me tear up. Whoever put those orphaned owls in that nest is an angel.
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u/RedLion8472 3d ago
It’s moments like these that remind us that there’s a lot of good in the world, even when life feels tough.
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u/Beneficial-Lemon-997 3d ago
Except for the pile of dead rodent bodies in the corner, lol
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u/KenIgetNadult 3d ago
His name is Robert E Fuller and he records lots of Attenborough like videos on YouTube.
This tawny owl he calls Luna and her mate is Bomber.
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u/tamati_nz 3d ago
53 year old dude at gym resting between squat sets - my eyes are leaking
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u/Six-Piece-McNuggets 3d ago
44 year old here. At the gym waiting for the squat rack to open up. Am also in tears.
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u/hyperfat 3d ago
I'm 20 years your Jr and a lady. I had to get a tissue.
Who dis? Mine!
I miss owls. I had one by my old place and she hooted all night. Like a soft luluby.
My new house is by the bay and we get hummingbirds. One hit me in the face and was very surprised. Sorry tiny lady. I'll put out more flowers. Their nest is by my front door.
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u/Leaislala 3d ago
Yep! Needed that today. All her happy little noises. And now the chicks have an owl mom to grow them up. Lovely. Take care internet stranger
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u/crazylady43 3d ago
This helped my crap day. She is going to be amazing at this mom thing. Sweet babies.
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u/tracklessCenobite 3d ago
Iirc, this is the third time they've given orphans to this particular sweet girl. She's so good with them!
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u/keepme1993 3d ago
So she never questions them magical babies but immediately starts to mother them?
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u/tracklessCenobite 3d ago
Pretty much. They just keep replacing her infertile eggs. She was a rescue herself, unless I'm mistaken, and she and her mate are frequently used as parents because their eggs don't hatch.
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u/xiaorobear 3d ago
I mean, she lays eggs, the eggs get replaced with chicks, that is how it's supposed to go. She just coincidentally happens to miss the moment of hatching every time!
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u/Rubyhamster 3d ago
Poor thing. Imagine having like 15 kids and never getting to there at birth for any of them. No wonder she's so smushy with them!
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u/ActOdd8937 3d ago
I've seen duck mamas attach orphaned goslings too, they're very on point about taking care of any needy baby water birds.
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u/IceyToes2 3d ago
"Oh my gosh, they hatched!! And they're so big!" ❤️
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u/Virtual_Pitch_3820 3d ago
I definitely imagined her saying “how long was I gone??!” 😆
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u/everydayjedidad 3d ago
That look at the end towards the camera “did you have something to do with this?”
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u/cruisefans 3d ago
Baby says, “I’m getting face planted here momma owl, what is happening.” 🥰😍😘❤️ The love of a mom. So beautiful. ❤️❤️
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u/randmperson2 3d ago
No matter how many times I see this video posted, what always makes me tear up is the fact that she looks straight into the camera at the end.
It’s like she knows somehow. And she’s grateful. 🥹
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u/Most-Supermarket1579 3d ago
Will the hubby come back or do they go solo after mating?
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u/IMO4444 3d ago
He comes back with food. Theres several videos of this particular couple. I also believe owls mate for life.
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u/Erutious 3d ago
I was so scared for a minute that she was attacking them but after a second I was like, "Nope, she's aggressively mothering them" and my heart was warm!
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u/Ma_mumble_grumble 3d ago
It almost seems like she looks at the camera and said thank you. As if she knew the people who control the camera gave her the babies.
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u/Takemyfishplease 3d ago
I know this is stupid, but I’m adopted and goddamn I broke down seeing her just immediately love them.
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u/AnseaCirin 3d ago
Good ol' Luna. If I recall she ended up fostering six owlets that year. Following year, two of her own eggs were successful and she fostered some owlets too.
Luna's the best tawny owl mom. Although she does get short with her mate Bomber when he tries to peek at the newborn owlets.
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u/WaveOfTheRager 3d ago
All she had were dead mice for company, but now she has babies!
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u/Thebraincellisorange 3d ago
the dude who put the babies in there also gave her a stash of mice.
feeding chicks is hard work, those mice will keep her going for a bit as a start.
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u/DesignIntelligent456 3d ago
Get under my wings, babies! I'm taking care of you forever now! I love this family
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u/Blairephantom 3d ago
The father would sense they're not his chicks and fill for DNA testing. Imagine the drama in the owl world because of human intervention.
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u/Furby-beast-1949 3d ago
The question is, did she not notice the eggs turned into giant chick or was she like I don’t care now you’re baby I’m gonna love you with all the pride and love 💕 and raise you like my own
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u/DarnedWesley 3d ago
Can you please link the original creator? He deserves every click and everyone should see his work..
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u/Thebraincellisorange 3d ago
I don't care how many times this gets reposted, I will always watch it.
such joy!
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u/Ergonim 3d ago
Okay honest question:
Does the mother owl understand, that those arent her chicks? Or is it more like "oh _there_ are my chicks, i was searching for them, great".
My question is: Is this a decision of the mother owl to adopt them or just instinct as in "those chicks need a mother and i am here"? :D
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u/Mike_Fluff 3d ago
Equivelent of being pregnant, it not working out, and some interdimsional superdiety drops a 7-month-old baby in your house.
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u/CoziestSheet 3d ago
“Draw Near” by Brock Hewitt: Stories in Sound, for anyone interested. His music directly hits my soul.
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u/ego_tripped 3d ago
Damn.
Those orphaned chicks got more affection in the 10 seconds I watched than I got out of my parents in my entire life.
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u/NittanyScout 3d ago
It's actually incredible how successful wild fostering is and how it sometimes happens naturally. I'm reminded of a hawk chicken that was snatched from a nest and brought to an eagles nest where instead of being eaten it just kinda set up shop and grew alongside the eagles chicks
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u/Dimplefrom-YA 3d ago
i wish that happened with me. 😔
i don’t know.
all my friends have told me i would have been an excellent mother. too late now.
this made me cry. fuck it. can’t watch this.
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u/Kind_Resort_9535 3d ago
Some how my brain read this as “Tawny Owl’s eggs replaced with lifeless chicks”. Much different story
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u/_Not_Jesus_ 3d ago edited 2d ago
I do not mean anything with this quote beyond to emphasize how utterly apropos it is in light of this beautiful event caught on camera:
Matthew 5:37:
...How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings...
The verse's context isn't really relevant here beyond the striking metaphor meant to illustrate how God's love for human-beings shares the same quality as this owl's love for her new chicks.
We humans have a habit of reading more into what we see than sometimes is justified or relevant. But if anyone is unclear about what pure love looks like, this video pretty much sums it up.
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u/PeanutFunny093 3d ago
It’s beautiful that she got the chance to be a mother. Perfect for those chicks, too.
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u/SaltyDog772 3d ago
Is this the very first meeting? Owl doesn’t seemed surprised in the slightest when she first lays eyes on them.
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u/jennythegreat 3d ago
I watch this video every single time it comes up. It is absolutely wonderful.
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u/Luci-Noir 3d ago
Reminds me of Murphy the bald eagle who would incubate a rock until they finally gave him a chick to raise.
Sadly, he died a few weeks ago during a storm. 😔
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u/JustUsetheDamnATM 3d ago
He's taking care of Jackie and Shadow's little one that didn't make it.
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u/FastMix9959 3d ago
Never thought I could fall in MAD love with owl chicks (chicks? 🤷🏼♂️ babies 🤨)
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u/Shitp0st_Supreme 3d ago
I’m going through infertility myself, I’m so happy this owl got to become a mother!
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u/tsukuyomidreams 3d ago
Her hugging this babies 😭 so sweet and beautiful I'm crying. You go little mama
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u/qualityvote2 3d ago edited 3d ago
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