With the silence of the streets following the almost global lockdown, many animals have reclaimed the streets where they once wandered freely!
A resident in the Netherlands recently discovered that he had a new “tenant” in his home, who also happened to have feathers!
Jos Baart, who lives on the third floor of his apartment, noticed something odd while watching television one day.
He caught sight of a HUGE owl outside his window! As it turned out, the largest owl breed in Europe had sought a new home to Jos’ window ledge. The Eurasian eagle-owl is notoriously difficult to capture on camera, and Jos got to see it first hand — but that wasn’t the end of it!
The owl was building a nest with three furry chicks–and they’re enormous!
Jos first contacted Vroege Vogels, a Dutch radio and television show, to show them this unbelievable scene.
This was too amazing for him to keep to himself! When a reporter came to his apartment to share the story, they brought a staff to take photos and videos.
It quickly became a viral sensation after their video was uploaded to YouTube.
Garnering over three million views and seventy thousand likes.
Jos first assumed the noises he was hearing were pigeons in his planter. He shared to Vroege Vogels that he began hearing bird clatter one day around half-past eight o’clock.
His first impression was, “Damn, those pigeons again,” followed by, “Well, they are not my friends.”
Regardless of his initial thoughts, Jos wanted to check it out for curiosity’s sake, even if it turned out to be pigeons. As we all know, he was taken aback when he realized what it was.
“One time I got home a bit early, so I went to check and see what was there. The entire week it had been the owl that was calling.”
Jos has essentially become an “owl-dad,” checking in on the family daily. He said:
“For me it’s like watching a movie twenty-four-seven. When you wake up in the morning they are right there in front of the window. That is just extraordinary.”
When asked if he ever speaks to the chicks, Jos replied:
“Sure I do. Look, you can see how relaxed they are. They are not scared at all.”
Jos wants to spend as much time as possible with the little family before they leave.
However, at the rate they are growing, it may be sooner than anyone anticipated!
“Imagine if they are here for another two months. You will have chicks this size.” He stretches out his arms in exaggeration.
This Eurasian eagle-owl, also known as “Uhu,” is one of the largest owl species.
Females can grow to a total length of 75 centimeters (30 inches), with a wingspan of 188 centimeters (6 ft 2 inches), with males being slightly smaller.
Jos appreciates having friends to watch television with, even if they are fluffier than he is used to!
He observed that whenever he turns on the TV, they all gather by the window, seeing their eyes flickering back and forth. He also moves his hand from side to side, demonstrating how the owls’ eyes follow his hand.
Incredibly, they can see him so clearly and yet never put an expression that they are afraid of him!
The Dutchman realizes how fortunate he is to have witnessed this:
“This is very special. A very unique experience.”
Witness his amazing giant owl family in the video below!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family!
