The belief that owls can
turn their heads 360 degrees is almost true.
Having twice the number of cervical vertebrae as humans allows them to
turn 270 degrees.
Owls have eyes that are
proportionally larger than other birds when compared to body size. Being nocturnal, this assists with night
vision.
Hearing is enhanced by
having offset ears on either side of the head.
An owl can tilt its head just slightly to hear within a larger
range. The shape of the owl’s face also
assists in hearing; the rounded shape funnels sounds to the ears.
The talons on an owl lock
in place after grasping prey, allowing for a more secure hold on the next meal
while flying to a safe place.
One of the most
fascinating features of owls is their ability to fly silently. The top feather of an owl’s wings is covered
with a very fine row of feathers which muffles any swishing sound made while
flying.
After the presentation we
ventured out to attract owls using modern technology – an amplified ipod with
recorded screech owl and barn owls calls.
We watched and waited for over an hour until we spotted a barn owl off
in the distance, possibly close enough to have heard our recorded call. This barn owl was to represent all of the
local owl population as it was the only one seen.
