So ugly they're cute! - eagle owl chicks hand reared

Two members of the dedicated Wildwood keeper team are hand rearing two eagle owl chicks after their mum couldn't look after them.

The demanding chicks were adopted by Cali Bebbington and Christine Reed after mum had started to ignore them and the keepers made the hard decision to intervene as their was concern they would die.

The two are keeping Cali and Christine up as they need regular feeding but they are putting on weight, their eyes are opening and both are doing very well

The chicks are very vocal and they make different noises when picked up or when they want food.

"They look like little goblins" commented Cali Bebbington Keeper at Wildwood "but they are very cute and at first I was very worried and kept checking on him all the time but he is really getting on well."

Eagle owls were UK residents after the last ice age and as populations recover across Europe it is possible that eagel owls will once again colonise the UK. The two chicks will be trained to the glove so that that they can be used around the park to help educate our visitors.

Eagle owls are just some of the huge range of British animals that can be seen at the Wildwood Discovery Park near Canterbury. For more information visit our website at www.wildwoodtrust.org or telephone 0871 7820081.

Wildwood's 'Wildlife Conservation Park' is an ideal day out for all the family where you can come 'nose to nose' with British Wildlife. Wildwood offers its members and visitors a truly inspirational way to learn about the natural history of Britain by actually seeing the wildlife that once lived here, like the wolf, beaver, red squirrel, wild boar and many more.

Wildwood is situated close to Canterbury, just off the A291 between Herne Bay and Canterbury.

The youngsters are available for photos to be taken of them.

(Photo: Leanne Wilson)

EAGLE OWL FACTS

Bubo Bubo

Description: This eagle owl is the largest and most powerful owl in Europe, about (27 inches) in length. It has a large beak and enormous talons but its most noticeable features are the striking orange eyes. It has prominent ear tufts, which are raised or lowered depending on its mood. The plumage is mostly mottled but with bolder streaks on the breast.

Habitat: Can be found from Europe across Russia to Pacific, South to Iran, Pakistan across to China and Korea. Eagle Owls occupy a variety of habitats, from coniferous forests to warm deserts. Rocky landscapes are often favoured. Adequate food supply and nesting sites seem to be the most important prerequisites.

Diet: Will eat almost anything the moves - from beetles to deer fawns. The major part of their diet consists of mammals (Voles, rats, mice, foxes, hares etc...), but birds of all kinds are also taken, including crows, ducks, grouse, seabirds, and even other birds of prey (including other owls). Other prey taken includes snakes, lizards, frogs, fish, and crabs.

Reproduction: Usually breeding begins in late winter. 1-4 eggs are laid on a shelter cliff ledge, in a crevice or a sheltered depression on the ground. The eggs are incubated for about 35 days. The young leave the nest by about 5 weeks and can normally fly within a further 3 weeks. They become independent by about 24 weeks old. In the wild, they live for approximately 20 years, but they can live more than 60 years in captivity.

Trivia:

Females are one third larger than males.

No owl builds their own nest.

An owl’s eyes do not move instead owls can move their heads almost three quarters around in each direction without moving their body.

www.wildwoodtrust.org