Lenny is my beautiful Turkmenian eagle owl.

On the 16th April 2012, I came into work as normal. I was cleaning out some of our small aviaries, when my boss shouted to me from the brooder room.

"Oi, love? Do you want a baby eagle owl? This one needs a mum!"

This wasn't what I expected when I went into work! I remember bouncing up and down lots and running over to my boss and giving her a hug as a simultaneous "Yes please!" and "Thank you!".

Two weeks previous, 3 tiny little baby eagle owls had hatched and were being looked after by their mother.
But she had rejected her babies before, so we weren't surprised when we had to take them away from her after she was refusing to feed them.

So, the tiny little owl came home with me. His brother and sister went home with their 'mums' - two other staff members.
He was a lot of hard work. Fed 4-5 times a day at first, and what goes in must come out!
Lots of mess, lots of keeping a little baby owl out of mischief. And lots of toes pounced on when I walked through the house.

10 weeks later, at the age of 12 weeks, he was fully grown.
And flying in the house.
(This is not as fun as it sounds.)

So it was time to be trained for free flight!
After only 3 days on the training line, he flew free for the first time.

And he has been just as amazing since.

He not only flies to me beautifully, but also clients who come in for experience days. He is a star in one of our flying displays. And he has even carried a ring in for a marriage proposal.
Ohh, I could tell so many stories of you. I feel privileged to be your mummy!

Thank you, Lenny, for the last 3 years.

Let us hope there are so many more. I love you, little buddy! <3

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I should add a note: Owls do not make good pets! They should not be kept as pets!
I work at a bird of prey centre - Lenny lives there.
I love him very much, but he is not my 'pet'. He is one of my many winged-colleagues!

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