What does one owl say to another? “Owl always love you.” The story we’re unfolding before you today, is regarding 2 affectionate barn owl that were caught on camera, kissing and snuggling in a fork of a tree. The captured images of this couple are extremely stunning. This pair, were noted to be sisters rather than a breeding pair of owl, were caught snuggling together in a tree by 55-year-old Leslie Arnott from Staffordshire.
Arnott caught the pair of barn owls on camera during a Country Events and Falconry partnership. Leslie teaches people in photographing static and flying birds of prey during these kinds of events.
According to this wildlife photographer, the pair of owls is not a mating pair, but sisters, and he goes on to say: ‘The owls are trained but they fly free in the woodland for customers to photograph them.’ It was a first for Arnott seeing the two ‘kissing’ owls in Leas Marston. He goes on to say: ‘They are quite hard conditions in the dark woodland and the pair flew for a while before sharing their special moment. Despite the fact the birds are trained, it was so special when they alighted on the branch and started a little intimacy together.’
He also had this to say: ‘They started rubbing heads and getting quite affectionate. Then came the moment they appeared to kiss each other. It was probably not intentional but it was a moment I have never witnessed before or since – despite many attempts to try and get them to repeat the moment for others.’
While this photography teacher takes the photos, the owls look back and pose for Mr. Arnott, and he had this to say: ‘They certainly looked like they tried to kiss but I guess we will never know for sure. ‘These owls are very affectionate towards each other and work well together however they are not a breeding pair they are actually sisters.’
He says that this affectionate behavior of the two owls went on for about three minutes, and it was pure luck that he was able to catch their ‘kiss.’ He also goes on to add: ‘They continued their tender behavior towards one another for around three minutes but the kissing happened twice within that period. It was luck as much as skill to catch the split second moment and I’m very glad I did.’
