6:23pm PST the live video feed is on and both Salt and Pepper come flying in as if too protect the box. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture. That is how it went most of the night, chasing and protecting. This is the time of year that they start looking for nesting opportunities so anything UNprotected is fair game.
The video attached is of Pepper at 1:46am side branch to box roof. She is on guard of the box. At, 1:46am she is showing defensive stance as another owl? flies by. 1:51am she seems to be attracted by something above and flies up to the roof of the school and then you will see her fly off.
I am posting bits of information about the owls, mostly Barn Owls, today we are going to start at 'the bottom' and tell about owls amazing feet and talons....
Feet and Talons
Many Owls have feathered feet which protect them from cold and may help to protect from bites of prey when seized.
The (semi) Zygodactylous foot – having the toes of each foot arranged in pairs, with two toes in front and two behind. When flying 3 toes face forward and 1 backwards. When holding prey or perched, the outer front toe on each foot swivels to face the rear. It is able to do this because of a unique flexible joint.
The talons are razor sharp, very powerful and are used to capture prey. The bony structure of Owl's feet are shorter and much stronger than the equivalent bones of other birds. This is to withstand the force of impact with prey. The talons are spread wide at this time for a greater chance of a successful catch.
The underside of the feet is covered with a rough, knobbly surface that helps to grip prey or to perch.
BARN OWLS have a serrated sharp edge on the underside of the middle toe, which (may) help grip prey and also aids in grooming.
Owls have a ratchet like, locking mechanism in their foot, which keeps the toes 'locked' on a perch or around prey without the need of muscles to remain contracted. It is also thought that the feet help to regulate body temperature. Excess body heat is radiated to and through the feet, which have extra blood vessels.
Note: The serrated comb on the middle toe of the barn owl is called the "pectinate" claw. It is used to comb their facial disk. Thank you Maggie.
Did You Know:
Owls have 14 neck vertebrae (humans have 7), allowing them to rotate their heads 270 degrees.
2 comments:
I wonder if last year's kids are still hanging about, or maybe it's the owls from down the road who are making her feel defensive.
There's a special name for the toe with the comb and I cannot seem to retrieve it from my database brain right now...oh, I remmber: pectinate claw! They comb their facial disk with it!
Maggie
Thank you Maggie. Info has been added.
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