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Owl in flight

Discussion

6 replies
Posted by Mark Jenkins on August 10, 2011 at 9:01 AM
Interesting video of an owl in flight I think most of you would like to see.

http://www.dogwork.com/owfo8/
Posted by SandyRichardsBrown on August 10, 2011 at 12:41 PM
Very cool - thanks! Beautiful bird and 1000 frames per second really shows the landing movements..
Sandy
Posted by David Graham on August 10, 2011 at 1:53 PM
What a wonderful video! It shows well that after the last propulsive wing beat it's all about "flaps-down" braking and adjusting the up -glide to the perch. The air eddys that bare the tensed patagium - that skin stretched from the shoulder to the wrist - show well it's role in braking as well. And that just before the feet grasp the perch the elbows and wrists are closing to begin bringing the wings into the resting, folded position just before the perch is actually gained.

I'd love to see more like this....just astounding!

Dave Graham, South Dakota
Posted by David Graham on August 10, 2011 at 1:56 PM
Mark,
Would you let us know some details about making this video re: equipment used? Were you standing behind the landing perch to film this or did the owl fly to your fist while you shot the event one-handed?
Dave Graham, South Dakota
Posted by Mark Jenkins on August 10, 2011 at 3:31 PM
Dave, I had nothing to do with making the video. A friend found it online and sent a link to me. Wish i had more details, but I don't.
Posted by Jim DeWitt on August 10, 2011 at 8:57 PM
It's been circulating on Twitter. An amazing video. My comment to my wife when she showed it to me: "The last thing the mouse saw."
Posted by Robbie Knight on August 20, 2011 at 10:20 AM
I work with injured birds at a rehabilitation center and can tell you the foot strength of owls is huge….. Whatever this bird was reaching for would have been crushed ! Neat to see how the tail (rudder) and wings (thrust/lift) work together to bring the bird to the grab point. Very cool video thanks for sharing.