In the most heartbreaking of circumstances, fate often intervenes to make sure that everything ends well.
Robert E. Fuller, a wildlife photographer, witnessed this firsthand.
There’s always a balance to be struck.
The photographer based in Yorkshire builds habitats in his backyard so he can both stimulate ecological growth and bring his subjects closer to his lenses.
The story begins in January.
It starts with an owl couple Luna and Bomber. Luna and Bomber were looking for somewhere to nest when they found one of the nesting places Fuller made.
The couple was having a difficult time especially when their first eggs failed to hatch.
The couple didn’t give up, though.
Even if the owl box changed from when Luna last lived there, she managed to carve out a beautiful spot for an egg.
The road to parenthood was not easy, however. Their place was a good spot to rest in and other birds have taken interest in their home.
The determined couple had to fight off some birds and in the end, they succeeded in marking their territory.
Tawny owls make their nests in holes in trees, and both males and females scrape out the hollows the eggs will sit in.
Luna also seems to like to add her own touches and I see her picking off bits of bark and making home improvements.
By mid-May, Luna began laying eggs.
It was challenging as a jackdaw and a kestrel tried making a home right at the door of the couple’s nest.
Despite the disturbance, Luna remained calm and continued laying eggs in 64-hour intervals.
This time, she ended up with a clutch of three eggs that she intends to take care of until they all hatch. Tawny owls incubate their eggs for approximately a month.
The task is also a team effort with Luna brooding and incubating the eggs and Bomber hunting for both of them.
A month later, disaster strikes once again.
After thirty days, the eggs remained still. It was a clear sign that the eggs failed once more.
The couple was left without a chick and to make matters worse, the birds that have been swarming them have returned. They even trapped Luna inside the nest.
Fate had other plans, however.
While the owls were reeling from the grief and were fighting off some birds, Fuller received a call.
He drove to a nearby farm where he was presented with two owl chicks.
The chicks were discovered by some hay stacks and the farmers thought that they fell off their nest.
Fuller then had an idea of rescuing the owls.
After fixing Luna’s nest, Fuller gave the mother owl a glimmer of hope. He knew Luna was the perfect candidate because her maternal instincts were at their peak.
Fuller introduced the chicks to Luna and astonishingly, Luna immediately enveloped them.
Through heartbreak and pain, Luna can finally fulfill her dream of being a mother.
People celebrated the amazing resolution.
“Luna was “passing it forward” when she adopted the owlets since she, too, was adopted. We’re happy she was able to share her mothering instincts with the needy owlets. It was a win-win situation for all!” said one.
“It almost looks like Luna is hugging them as she starts to brood them. What a sweet foster mom! I’m so glad it worked out.” Said another.
See how this fostered owl became a foster mom herself in the video below!
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