Mike Gayner
Diamond Member
This is my favourite owl picture.
transformer owl is nothing short of badass.
Richard Gere is giggling with anticipation over the possibilities.
D:
Did you guys know that owls hunt by sound more than they do with their large eyes?
They have ear tufts, which are little ridges of cartilage and feathers that sit at an angle behind their ear canals. the tufts capture sound and reflect it back into the ear canal at an angle. much like sonar, this gives them precise distance and direction cues--to cm sensitivity--that allows them to pinpoint and strike a mouse from up to 50 feet away (maybe more?), in about 2 seconds strike time.
I think barn owls are the best at this kind of hunting, as they tend to hang out in enclosed spaces, giving them greater sound sensitivity.
And did YOU know the feathers on the leading edges of their wings are fuzzy to enable silent flight?
That would be a sweet gig. Falconry at a ren fest during season, and maybe do pest control as a main business. I gave it a bit of thought myself, but I think licensing is tough, and I'm not sure how well you could turn it into income.