During the latest episode of BBC’s Springwatch, Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan were following tawny owls, specifically one called Spud.

The latest episode of Springwatch saw a live feed of a tawny owl box (Image: BBC)

BBC’s wildlife series Springwatch faced backlash this week after the show aired “savage” and “distressing” footage of a tawny owl and songthrushes. Presenter Chris Packham explained to viewers that the two songthrushes had been tending to their baby chicks in their nest on May 28th, and by the end of the week, they had grown quite considerably. One of them decided to leave whilst the other stayed, which Chris warned was a “big mistake.” Viewers at home were then shown distressing footage of a tawny owl bringing in one of the songthrushes, with another scene showing the owl killing the chicks in their nest with its talons. The nests were only 250 metres apart, so it was a likely source of food for the tawny owls.

However, fans at home were left unhappy over the brutal scenes, with one person moaning on X, “Hopefully owl falls out tree and dies #springwatch.”

A second also commented, “Oh no not the thrushes 🙁 #springwatch.” A third similarly said, ” Well done #springwatch Tens of thousands of children now crying and in distress! They’re not all heartless like you Horrible BBC.”

The wildlife series Springwatch faced backlash over ‘distressing’ scenes (Image: BBC)Meanwhile, one viewer defended the show and said, “What a shame about the song thrush chicks, but an owl’s gotta eat #springwatch.”

Just last week, viewers were also complaining after Springwatch aired scenes of a short-eared owl’s nest, where a bird ate its own sibling in a brutal twist.

Packham revealed, “There were six youngsters in the nest,” before explaining: “Last night there were only two left in the nest,” indicating that the others had dispersed to avoid predators.

Springwatch viewers also complained last week over grisly scenes (Image: BBC)

Michaela Stratchan then added, “It really surprised us,” saying that the weaker chick had been eaten alive by its stronger sibling after becoming “weak and defenceless.”

The unsettling scene caused one viewer at home to say on X, “Baby owl eating its sibling alive ffs. Give us a 5-minute warning next time.”

Another similarly echoed, “Really don’t think they should have shown the owl being eaten alive,” whilst a third typed, “Jeeze could have done without being shown that older owl chick pecking its fellow younger chick to death.”