Loved-up owls 'move in together' at nature reserve

In the serene setting of Maiden Erlegh Nature Reserve located in Earley, Berkshire, a delightful love story has unfolded between two tawny owls affectionately named Romeo and Juliet. These owls have captured the hearts of many visitors as they were recently spotted cuddled up together in a cozy owl box. This box, a small square structure attached to a sturdy tree trunk, provided a warm and safe haven for the owls, allowing them to gaze out at the beautiful forest surrounding them. The tale of Romeo and Juliet is reminiscent of classic love stories where a boy meets a girl, they fall in love, and eventually decide to live together. Their romance began when they started calling out to each other from their separate owl boxes, which were located on opposite sides of the nature reserve. This sweet communication was the first sign of their growing affection. Soon enough, they found themselves sharing the same box, and now there are hopes that they will welcome a new generation of owlets in the spring. Max Brown, the operations manager at Earley Town Council, expressed his joy over the owls' union, stating that it was a clear indication that the conservation efforts at the reserve were yielding positive results. The team had worked diligently to restore owl boxes that had fallen into disrepair, and just nine days after the restoration, a male tawny owl took up residence in one of the boxes, followed shortly by a female owl from across the reserve. Mr. Brown recounted the excitement of one of the local residents who rushed to share a photo of both owls nestled together in the same box. The team was thrilled by this development, especially since it happened so quickly after their efforts. Mr. Brown noted that the restoration of the owl boxes was just one of many initiatives aimed at enhancing the habitat and biodiversity within the nature reserve. The activity of the owls served as encouraging feedback, demonstrating that they were successfully creating a healthy environment that balanced natural elements with human interaction. Looking ahead, Mr. Brown expressed his hopes for even more exciting developments for Romeo and Juliet. He explained that as the owls enter their mating season, it is likely that they will produce offspring in the spring. While he acknowledged that nature can be unpredictable, he remained optimistic, saying, 'We are very hopeful for that. there's never any guarantees in nature but fingers crossed we will get lots of little owlets at some point. ' The community surrounding the reserve is eager to witness the next chapter in the love story of these two charming owls.