Only half of it is missing. It’s an explenation for silent gliding, which all birds that can glide manage, but not for silently beating the wings
Because they didn’t show what happens to the feathers when she beats her wings (which didn’t make much sound when she flew over the mics).
According to the local falconer their outer feathers have a special form that breaks the sound waves.
DonDueedsays
This was shown last week as a Nature episode on PBS. They did discuss the specialized feathers that enable near-silent flight (right after the end of this clip, actually).
What was really fascinating is that those feathers have a downside, too. They don’t shed water. Owls get drenched when it rains, and can’t hunt. The noise of rainfall also cancels out their superb hearing and prevents hunting. If stormy weather lasts for several days in a row, they just have to go hungry.
This was shown last week as a Nature episode on PBS. They did discuss the specialized feathers that enable near-silent flight (right after the end of this clip, actually).
What was really fascinating is that those feathers have a downside, too. They don’t shed water. Owls get drenched when it rains, and can’t hunt. The noise of rainfall also cancels out their superb hearing and prevents hunting. If stormy weather lasts for several days in a row, they just have to go hungry.
Wow, thanks for that. I don’t have television, so I miss things like this (a serious downside to no TV). I didn’t know that they could become waterlogged.
Beautiful experiments and explanation.
Only half of it is missing. It’s an explenation for silent gliding, which all birds that can glide manage, but not for silently beating the wings
Because they didn’t show what happens to the feathers when she beats her wings (which didn’t make much sound when she flew over the mics).
According to the local falconer their outer feathers have a special form that breaks the sound waves.
This was shown last week as a Nature episode on PBS. They did discuss the specialized feathers that enable near-silent flight (right after the end of this clip, actually).
What was really fascinating is that those feathers have a downside, too. They don’t shed water. Owls get drenched when it rains, and can’t hunt. The noise of rainfall also cancels out their superb hearing and prevents hunting. If stormy weather lasts for several days in a row, they just have to go hungry.
DonDueed @ 3:
Wow, thanks for that. I don’t have television, so I miss things like this (a serious downside to no TV). I didn’t know that they could become waterlogged.