Exhausted barn owl rescued 70 nautical miles offshore

An exhausted barn owl found 70 nautical miles off northeast England is recovering after an Army sailing crew brought it aboard and coordinated a safe handover to wildlife specialists.

The bird appeared above Fujitsu British Soldier as the crew competed in a 1,805-nautical-mile non-stop race around Britain and Ireland. It first tried to land on a sailor and then on the mast, but tumbled into the water three times. When it finally collapsed on the side deck, the sailors covered it with a towel, fed it and made a temporary bed. They cared for the bird for about 24 hours while continuing south.

From offshore, the crew contacted the Barn Owl Trust, leading to coordination with Marine and Wildlife Rescue and Caister Independent Lifeboat. A lifeboat met the yacht off the Norfolk coast and carried the owl ashore for specialist care. A wildlife rescuer later said it was well on its way to recovery.

Barn owls do not migrate and are poorly adapted to wet weather. Strong winds can carry the lightweight birds off course, while water in their feathers weighs them down. This owl’s survival far from land depended on its persistence and a rapid response across several organisations.