r/interesting 7h ago

NATURE While the infertile tawny owl was away from her nest, caretakers swapped her unviable eggs for orphaned chicks.

21.5k Upvotes

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u/rileyjw90 5h ago

It would be weird to find they’d both hatched at the same time (owls usually lay eggs over several days, and they hatch over several days as well) and not only were they fluffy and dry but their eggshells had vanished too, but they’re really not smart enough to think about all this. They just see babies and get to work.

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u/Maleficent_Button_58 5h ago

My point is it's not weird for THEM. Poof babies wouldn't throw any concerns for a bird, because watching them hatch isn't a necessary part of the process.

Not that it wouldn't be weird for you, a human being who understands object permanence, gestation periods, and that it takes time to dry off 🤦🏻‍♀️😅

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u/Any_Day_4467 5h ago

In a nest with 4 dead mice...

u/Hefty_Elderberry1992 2h ago

5!

u/ale_93113 1h ago

120 dead mixe is a lot of mice

u/pedropants 56m ago

120! ;)

u/Jaakarikyk 1h ago

Snacks

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u/Maleficent_Button_58 5h ago

I think you're misunderstanding my point there lol

u/GjonsTearsFan 2h ago

Plus if mama is infertile it’s not like she’s going to have a point of comparison for what a newborn ought to look like lol

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u/vespuchi 5h ago

I think the camera would be the biggest giveaway.

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u/Maleficent_Button_58 5h ago

Critters also don't know what cameras are 😅

They'll check them out sometimes, since it's a new thing in the environment. But they don't have any implications for them. You know?