25 June
2019
Staff at
a bird sanctuary were shell-shocked when an eagle owl they had believed was male
for 23 years unexpectedly laid an egg.
Kaln, who
came to Gloucester's Barn Owl Centre as a chick in 1996, delivered its surprise
on Sunday.
Founder
Vincent Jones said: "You should have seen his face after he laid it. You
should have seen our faces."
Kaln's
sex had never been checked before as the bird was so healthy, Mr Jones said.
"The
egg came as a massive surprise. He's now a tomboy," he said.
"His
brother is still staring into the nest scrape in the ground confused to hell.
He's now got a sister instead of a brother."
Mr Jones
said although the egg was not fertilised and would not develop into a chick,
there could be more as owls lay up to three or four at a time.
