Subject: Re: Re. owl predation
Date: Jan 22 10:40:54 1996
From: Herb Curl - h.curl at hazmat.noaa.gov


Jack Bowling wrote: "Remember the old pan-boreal aboriginal legends about
Boreal Owls being "blind" during the daytime. Perhaps someone with
biological info on the optical
characteristics of owl vision could inform us further."

Following this thread and thinking about Short-eared Owls hunting in the
daytime and Barn and Burrowing Owls hunting both day (overcast, at least)
and night, does anyone know if SEOW hunt at night as well?

Jim Russo has been favoring us with an essay on owl vision. What I've
missed so far is a statement concerning their alleged ability to see light
in the near infrared, and thus locate warm prey that would appear lighter
than the cooler background.

Herb Curl

h.curl at hazmat.noaa.gov "You may be only young once but you can be
Hazmat/NOAA, 7600 Sand Pt. Wy., NE immature the rest of your life."
Seattle, WA 98115-0070
(206) 526-6272