Owls returned to wild after falling down chimney

Two tawny owls have been rehabilitated and returned to the wild after falling down a chimney into a house in Surrey.

The pair had to be rescued in late January after the property's owners awoke to find one sleeping on their chandelier and the other entangled in a pair of curtains.

Leatherhead-based animal charity Wildlife Aid said it was likely the creatures, both of which sustained minor injuries, had likely mistaken the chimney for "a hollow tree" and tried to get inside.

Calling it "one of our most unexpected rescues", a spokesperson said the birds - a male and a female - had made a full recovery and were released together last month.

"This unusual situation was a huge surprise to the people that discovered it," said a Wildlife Aid spokesperson.

"One owl was hanging upside down attached to a curtain and the other was sitting on top of a chandelier.

"The male on the chandelier was able to fly around, but the female had her talons stuck in the curtain material and was unable to move.

"However, the male remained by her side and did not leave her."

They added that both had sustained damage to their left eyes from the fall, while one also had scratches on its beak.

"Both owls were brought into our care, monitored closely and kept together in an aviary," added the spokesperson.

"They were treated for their injuries, which weren't major, and recovered in just over a week."

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said tawny owls were the most common owls in the UK, but they had declined by more than 40% between 1995 and 2023.

The species is now on the amber list of Birds of Conservation Concern.

"Because they only come out at night, they're tricky to study, and scientists don't yet know the reasons for their decline," said an RSPB spokesperson.

"But habitat loss and a lack of prey might be part of the problem."

Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook or X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.