4 minute lesson
Ghosts in the Night: How Owls Fly Silently
Do you know the phrase ‘silent hunters of the night’?
The flight of owls is almost completely silent! This comes in useful for surprising their prey under the cover of darkness, but how do owls fly silently? Here’s Deep Look to explain more.
Why It Matters
So the velvety feathers of owls dampen the noise while their wingspan ensures that they do not have to flap their wings as often. This makes them the silent and sneaky bird we know.
As we saw in the video, both the falcon and the owl were incredible hunters, each with their own strategy for capturing prey. Just because something can be accomplished one way, it doesn’t mean there isn’t a different but equally effective way to reach the same goal! Look to nature for inspiration; separate species have evolved in totally different ways to find shelter, eat, and survive in their environments.
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Deep Look
DEEP LOOK is a science video series that explores big science by going very, very small, from KQED and PBS Digital Studios.
Using macro photography and microscopy they are looking at the world up close.