Islanders on Mull have pulled together to help save the lives of a family of fluffy tawny owls.
Local haulage driver Eddie O’Donnell was deployed to Scoor Forest near Bunessan to pick up a stack of timber.
After loading the logs aboard his double-wagon truck with his crane, he made the 10 mile journey east to the timber pier at Pennyghael.
However, upon arrival he was “shocked and amazed” to discover he was carrying some extra cargo – three baby tawny owls.
Wildlife tour guide Bryan Rains of Wild About Mull made his way to the pier before giving the owls a once-over to asses for injuries.
The young owlets were then boxed up before being driven as close to home as possible.
The following day, local resident Ashley Soames returned to the forest where he discovered one owl had vanished, with the remaining two showing signs of weakness and malnourishment.
To prevent further deterioration, the owls were transferred into the care of David and Val Owen, who have experience of raising owls at their home in Lochdon.
The pair have now defied the odds and are now thriving back to full health; feeding well, gaining weight and getting their first growth of feathers.
Experts are now hopeful to return the owlets to the wild by providing a food source nearby as their parents would do until they are independent and can fend for themselves.
RSPB Mull Officer Dave Sexton said: “It’s great to hear of a heart-warming story like this, especially now.
“Generally, the advice is to leave owlets alone as they leave the nest before they can fly but walk and climb about being fed by their parents. But clearly, this case was exceptional.
“Eddie must have been so skilled and careful picking up the logs not to injure the owlets.
“It’s an incredible story of survival and now thanks to Ash, David and Val they’re well on their way to a bright future back in the wild”.
