Rock 'n' Roll Rescue: Tiny owls saved amidst Glastonbury headline set

By Laura Linham 4th Jul 2023

The first owl, Axl, was found under stage left of the Pyramid Stage during the Guns N'Roses set. Credit: Secret World Wildlife Rescue
The first owl, Axl, was found under stage left of the Pyramid Stage during the Guns N'Roses set. Credit: Secret World Wildlife Rescue

Amidst the reverberating music and merrymaking at Glastonbury Festival, a surprising discovery was made under the legendary Pyramid Stage - a duo of little owls, now nicknamed Axl and Slash after the iconic Guns N' Roses members.

During the headlining act of Guns N' Roses on Saturday night, the first of the tiny owl siblings, aptly named Axl, was found tucked away under the stage, presumably looking for the mosh pit.

Initially cared for by the RSPCA at West Hatch, the little bird was then transferred to the nurturing hands of Somerset World Wildlife Rescue (SWWR) in Highbridge.

Come Sunday, a second surprise was in store. Another owlet was discovered at the same spot, believed to be Axl's sibling. Named Slash, in honour of Guns N' Roses' be-hatted guitarist, it was promptly sent to join its brother at SWWR. Both owls are now reported to be faring well, living in an outdoor aviary.

Reflecting on the unusual circumstance, David Plant, SWWR's Fundraising Manager, said: "When Guns N' Roses were playing 'Welcome to the Jungle', I'm sure they didn't realise how close they actually were to wildlife.

"This is possibly the most unusual disturbance case we've heard about this year, but it just goes to show the importance of checking your surrounding for wildlife before any activity.

The Pyramid Stage, which stands firm year-round, transforms back to part of the dairy farm once the festival fades. This time around, it inadvertently became the nesting spot for a pair of little owls.

David added: "Whether you're renovating your garden, or setting up for the world's biggest musical festival, our advice is always the same - if you've got materials or structures that have been in place for a while, please check them carefully before moving anything, as you may end up disturbing a nest.

"It looks like the parents sadly abandoned their nest once festival preparation began, so it's difficult to say how long the chicks were left alone.

"We're so grateful to the people who found and helped them. They must have been terrified after enduring almost two full days of loud music.

"We're hopeful they won't be 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door' any time soon, and we'll be making plans to return them to the wild once they're old enough, so they'll get their chance to experience some 'November Rain' later in the year.

     

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