Superbowl

I’m having #catfacts flashbacks now.

Did you know owls can fly? Above ground even! #owlfacts

I have been thinking I need to throw in some basic beginner level facts to get our new members caught up. I will try to get on that!

You do a lot of posting... Is the fact more exciting used as the post title, or in the body after a briefer, catchy title?

I like when people are easy to please. 😁

There have been a few owls recently discovered or that have become unique species, like the spectacled owl from Brazil that was just upgraded to its own species the other week. I love covering those, since there is stuff to talk about.

Some of the rare species are in very remote places where not many people can photograph or study them, and I kinda feel bad that the surprise of some of the owls falls flat right away.

Like: here's this exciting thing you've never heard of! Now let me tell you it's been spotted 3 times over 100 years, and we think it probably eats beetles, the end.

In cases where nobody really knows anything, what else would you enjoy hearing about? The remote island or forest where it lives? Its possible closest relative? The person who is credited for discovering it?

To myself, I feel like I just end up saying this is a Scops Owl or Boobook, but a slightly different color, so I'm not sure how to sell it as something exciting if I don't have any unique things to highlight.

I'm glad you're having fun!

Never be afraid to ask me even the most basic of questions. I don't mind answering them, as I know new people are joining our group all the time.

I've also got to make an owl presentation for our upcoming open house event, so it lets me know what questions owl noobs have, so I can be prepared. I want to do some stuff with what local owls we have, size vs weight to show how light they are for their size, and a feather display to show how different their feathers are compared to other birds, and also something about how their hearing works.

I do too! I get they're cute and amazing on the outside, but I like learning more about what it must feel like to be an owl.

My problem with techy posts cuts 2 ways. They take a long time to do, since I have to dig to find articles, they don't often just pop up since this stuff is super niche, and then I have to break it down a lot so I can understand it. Then I also feel limited when I can share this stuff here, since it's going to either be a long post or a technical post, and I don't know if that is just boring to too many of you or if you just don't time to read something that in truth through most of the week and then never get back to it, but they get a low vote most times, and it makes me feel like that's not time well spent.

I try to post them Friday through Sunday when I assume you have more time to read with more concentration. Is this good for you guys?

I have a few detailed documents and research papers bookmarked. I have a big document about Boreal Owls, and I know I have a study about Powerful Owls learning how to cross the road, basically starting to learn how to deal with cats.

A wise guy? I got your owls right here!

We've covered eyes and ears a bunch. We did respiration and eye removal recently, which I found fascinating.

I did read an article recently about how the fact birds have hollow bones doesn't necessarily make them lighter that I don't think got shared here (or maybe someone linked it in a comment and then I read the whole thing?).

Maybe I can find some other organs they have or do something on feather growth or egg development. How their muscles attach to withstand the forces of flight is another thing I've been curious about.