Barn Owl chicks

We collected 2 barn owl chicks from Merrist Wood College this morning. As with our tawny owls, the intention is to rear them to fly as part of our flying team to take part in the owl displays we have in the afternoons.

Both these chicks are being reared by Katie, who also is looking after the tawny owls, and will live at the Centre when hard feathered.

They are both from the same litter, although one does look a lot bigger! Barn owls usually hatch one chick at a time, with the subsequent ones hatching a couple of days later... hence the size difference.

Barn owl chicks are possibly the least attractive of the owl world, but like the "ugly duckling" end up being one of Britain's most beautiful and iconic animals.