Bomber, a tawny owl who is at least 18 years old, was officially confirmed missing this week by Thixendale artist Robert E Fuller – who shares films of the animals in his garden.
The owl, who was last seen in September, was a favourite of over two million followers who tuned in to Robert’s livestreams with Bomber considered a favourite of the wildlife ‘stars’ featured.
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Bomber, along with his mate Luna, fostered more than 20 chicks and raised 12 of his own young since the first live stream of their nest – but Bomber, who had at least two other mates, is believed to have raised further generations of tawny owls in his life.
Fans across the USA as well as Peru and Canada have expressed their sadness at Bomber’s disappearance; many described being “heartbroken”, and one fan even shared how her husband had carved Bomber and Luna into their headboard after years of following the owls’ story.
This week, Robert confirmed what fans were dreading. He said: “He’s gone missing before, but not for this long. When I noticed Luna with a different male, I knew that if Bomber was still around, he wouldn’t tolerate this.
“He leaves quite a legacy and he was well-loved. He got his name from the powerful way he defended his territory, but it was his tender side that won hearts.
“He was a good provider and would go on feeding both his own chicks and foster chicks long after they had fledged the nest.”