interesting things about owls...
it may seem pitch black to us, but the owls can see in light which
is about 10% of what we need to see... and very well... it is
because their pupils of their eyes are enlarged to let in more
light.... there is a reflective layer at the back of the retina
called (i think) the tapetum lucidum which collects the light not
captured the first time... thereby increasing their ability to see
in the dark.. sort of like cats... so light shone into their eyes
will result in "glowing eyes"
their eyes are also in front... so that they have stereoscopic
eyesight.. which allows them to judge distances and therefore have
the ability to strike at their prey with great accuracy.. the
ability to swivel their heads about 270 degrees also helps them
spot their prey and home in for the strike..
but most curious of all, is their ability to strike at their prey
when they can't even see their prey... the shape of their faces are
such that all the sound is collected, like a parabolic cone.. so
that their hearing is very very acute. and they can pinpoint where
their prey is hiding or moving... and with their soft feathers,
flying silently, their prey will not know what hit them when they
are caught...
and another thing... owls swallow their prey whole... and the
indigestible parts like bones, scales and feathers, are
regurgitated in an "owl pellet".. a slick pellet of undigested
stuff
