TAWNY OWL

The tawny is a large, heavily built owl and as such is less susceptible to the severe injuries suffered by the barn owl. However, the sheer number of these owls ensures that large numbers are brought to us each year – many as the result of vehicle strikes.

Tawnies have a peculiar tendency to fall down chimneys. This seems to result from an instinctive desire to call from a high, open perch combined with a poor sense of balance. The soot poses a real danger as they try to preen it from their feathers. These sooty tawnies account for a significant proportion of the 99 birds received, 55 of which were released.