| Owls are not evil spirits, wise little
philosophers or Walt Disney creations. Nor do they wing about carrying
messages, despite the way they're depicted in the Harry Potter books.
In fact, owls are probably more misunderstood than any other kind of bird.
These are hunting birds, yet their sharp beaks and talons are partly hidden
under feathers. Owl have more and softer feathers than other birds, and
this unique plumage gives them a plump, rounded look. Add an upright posture
and huge eyes set in front like ours, and you have what looks irresistibly
like a small, bemused person wearing a fur coat. In reality, owls are
superbly adapted nocturnal hunters. This program shows how owls use their
specialized powers of sight, hearing and flight to survive and thrive.
A wealth of fact and folklore about these masters of the dark explains
the natural and unnatural history of owls. A variety of live owls provides
the focus of the presentation. |
