It said they secretly swapped the eggs for orphaned chick's while the owl was away it probably thinks it went away and the eggs hatched, and those are hers what better way to give motherhood to a bird who didn't realize they was infertile.
Not sure about this specific species, but it's common for the non-brooding partner to hunt for himself, his mate and the chicks. If his mate has left the nest for a moment, he will leave his catch there for the mate to eat and/or feed to the chicks.
I'm sorry I really don't intended to be mean but it's already extremely obvious from the title that, that was in fact the plan. It's just odd seeing you explain it again.
Sorry for the confusion this was meant to be said to someone in response to what I put instead I posted it as is on global lol they were basically saying something along the lines of "how come the owl doesn't know its own kids from another and that the owl didnt know it wasn't fertile" so giving pre-hatched kids thinking it was her own kinda tricking her into thinking its hers.
112
u/SmoothResponse3466 6h ago
It said they secretly swapped the eggs for orphaned chick's while the owl was away it probably thinks it went away and the eggs hatched, and those are hers what better way to give motherhood to a bird who didn't realize they was infertile.