Two young owls were found nesting under the famous Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury during Guns N' Roses' headline set, an animal charity has revealed.
The team at Secret World Wildlife Rescue (SWWR) in Somerset described the incident as "the most unusual disturbance case" they have encountered this year. According to the rescuers, one of the owls, named Axl after the band's vocalist Axl Rose, was found under the steps of the prestigious Pyramid Stage during the LA band's performance on Saturday, June 24.
The following day, the nature charity received a call about the second owl, which was discovered trapped under the stage. This owl was aptly named Slash, in honor of guitarist Saul Hudson's stage name. Axl and Slash, believed to be siblings, were swiftly reunited at the RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre in Taunton before being transferred to SWWR.
The chicks are thought to have been abandoned by their parents, and it remains uncertain how long they were left alone - or which acts they would have heard. SWWR suspects that they were exposed to very loud music during their time alone.
David Plant, fundraising manager at SWWR, expressed concern for the safety of the young owls, stating that they "must have been terrified." Nonetheless, he expressed gratitude towards those who assisted in locating the chicks. He said, "When Guns N' Roses were playing 'Welcome To The Jungle,' I'm sure they didn't realize 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 surroundings for wildlife before any activity."
“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.”
Mr Plant emphasized the need for people to be mindful of wildlife when carrying out activities and urged them to carefully inspect long-standing structures or materials to avoid disturbing nests. He advised, "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."
While owls typically prefer nesting in old trees or man-made boxes, these two little owls seemed to have found the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury to be an ideal spot. Despite the booming music, they managed to make themselves at home. Mr Plant said the pair are safe and doing well in the SWWR aviary, stating that they were "pleased" to be reunited.
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