In this December Edition of North Woods Naturalist, Chel Anderson documents the influx of owls during the winter of 2024-25, especially Great Gray and Snowy Owls. Chel also explores the possible reasons why owls have virtually soundless flight compared to other birds. Is it the soft velvet that covers their feathers or the position of fringe feathers on the wing? And is soundless flight necessary for owls to better hear their prey during the hunt, or are their soundless wings designed for the element of surprise?
Photo by Zdeněk Macháček via Unsplash.com