Bold headline-worthy moment: two tawny owls fall down a Surrey chimney and are rescued, then released back into the wild.
Image source: Wildlife Aid
By Nathan Bevan
South East
Two tawny owls were rehabilitated and released back into the wild after an unusual incident where they fell into a house through a chimney in Surrey.
The birds were rescued in late January when the homeowners woke to find one owl resting on their chandelier and the other entangled in a pair of curtains (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93jqpn39z1o).
Wildlife Aid, a Leatherhead-based animal charity, suggested the owls—one male and one female—likely mistook the chimney for a hollow tree and attempted to enter the residence.
Describing the event as “one of our most unexpected rescues,” a Wildlife Aid spokesperson noted that both owls suffered minor injuries but recovered fully and were released together last month.
“This unusual situation came as a huge surprise to the people who discovered it,” the spokesperson said.
“One owl was hanging upside down, attached to a curtain, while the other perched on top of a chandelier. The male owl could fly around, but the female’s talons were caught in the curtain material, preventing movement. Yet the male stayed by her side and did not leave her.”
Wildlife Aid added that both owls had damage to their left eyes from the fall, and one had scratches on its beak.
Image source: Wildlife Aid
The pair were brought into care, monitored closely, and kept together in an aviary. They received treatment for non-serious injuries and recovered in a little over a week.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) notes that tawny owls are the UK’s most common owl species, but their numbers declined by more than 40% between 1995 and 2023. The species currently sits on the amber list of Birds of Conservation Concern.
“Because tawny owls are nocturnal, they’re challenging to study, and scientists aren’t yet sure why their numbers are falling,” explained a spokesperson for the RSPB. “But habitat loss and a shortage of prey could be contributing factors.”
If you’re curious about how common urban encounters with wildlife end, or what wildlife shelters do to help nocturnal birds adjust after injuries, you’re not alone—share your thoughts in the comments. Do you think urban development should change to better safeguard nocturnal species, or are these incidents simply part of living alongside wildlife? And what other measures would you like to see to support such rescues?"
