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They can find prey without
ever seeing it.
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00:00:20,080 --> 00:00:22,080
They can fly as silent as a ghost...
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00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:27,160
..and they can even see in the dark.
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00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:38,120
Owls have what appear to be
genuine super-powers.
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00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:43,040
To understand their amazing
abilities,
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00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:45,440
we're going to get closer
than ever before.
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00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:49,280
Meet Luna and Lily.
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00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:55,800
Through the eyes of these
fluffy little barn owl chicks...
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00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:57,000
WOMAN: You can fly!
10
00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:59,040
..and their extraordinary family,
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00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:03,560
we'll reveal the magic
behind these mysterious birds.
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00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:09,200
You wouldn't want to be a vole now,
would you? No.
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No, life as a vole would be brief.
14
00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:13,880
And working with some of the world's
leading scientists...
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00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:18,040
There's not a sound. That is really
impressive, isn't it? Yup.
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00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:22,320
..we'll find out what gives owls
their super-powered edge.
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00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:50,240
Owls live all over the world...
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..from the frozen north...
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00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:57,440
..to scorched deserts.
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With their familiar faces,
these charismatic birds
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00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:07,280
have captured our imagination.
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00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:13,400
There are about
240 different species...
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..and they appear to have
conquered our planet.
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They live on every continent,
except Antarctica.
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00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:29,000
So, what are the secrets
of their success?
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Owls are birds of prey.
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00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:37,760
Like their cousins,
the hawks, eagles, and falcons,
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they have sharp talons...
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..a curved beak
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00:02:42,640 --> 00:02:44,840
and a taste for small mammals.
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00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:52,200
But they also have a unique
set of skills that set them apart.
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Their superpowers.
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00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:01,760
To find out more,
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00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:03,800
we need to go beneath the surface...
35
00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:19,440
..and start at the very beginning...
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00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:27,040
..when all of the potential
for this remarkable bird
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is held in one tiny egg.
38
00:03:33,920 --> 00:03:36,280
After 30 days of incubation,
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00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:38,920
the chick inside is ready
to make an appearance.
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00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,800
But it's a tough task.
It can take 48 hours for an owlet
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00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:46,240
to break out
of its protective shell.
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00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:48,040
What are you up to in there?
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You coming out yet, little one? Eh?
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Anxiously waiting in the incubation
room
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00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:58,200
is an unusual father for a bird.
46
00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:04,120
I saw you move then,
I saw the egg move.
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HE LAUGHS
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00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:06,720
You moved!
49
00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:16,480
Lloyd Buck has been fascinated
with owls since he was young.
50
00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:28,240
Now he and his wife Rose
have a whole family of birds,
51
00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:31,040
including a barn owl called Kensa...
52
00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:35,000
..Johanna the Tawny Owl...
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Good girl.
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00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:38,040
..Arnie,
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00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:39,840
Bran,
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00:04:39,840 --> 00:04:41,600
Moses,
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00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:43,920
PJ...
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and Sasha the tawny eagle.
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00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:51,160
Lloyd and Rose love
and care for their birds
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00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:52,640
like their own children.
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Good boys, come on then.
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Whoo!
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00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:57,120
They also train them to star in
films.
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00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:09,600
We've got a little pellet.
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00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:13,160
They have a passion for
educating others about birds
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00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:15,800
and the importance
of protecting them in the wild.
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00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:32,720
Through the eyes of this
special family,
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00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:36,320
we're going to learn more about
the owl's mysterious world.
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00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:42,200
Lloyd and Rose are going to
put their own birds to the test...
70
00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,880
..and, this year, they're expecting
some new arrivals...
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..two barn owl chicks.
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00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:58,440
Hiya. How's it going, Lloyd?
Well, it's all right.
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The eggs are being
incubated by experts
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00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:05,920
at the Hawk Conservancy Trust, a
specialist bird conservation centre.
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00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:09,520
He's already started to pip.
There's a little bit of movement.
76
00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:10,800
Can you see the movement?
77
00:06:12,280 --> 00:06:13,880
Look at that!
78
00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:18,120
Mike Riley and his team make regular
checks on their progress.
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00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:20,720
We'll put her back in now.
Yeah, yeah.
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00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:22,600
The first is nearly ready to hatch.
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00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:34,200
It's almost two days
since the owlet inside
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00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:35,840
made her first pip on the shell.
83
00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:39,080
Come on, little one.
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00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,120
Now she's exhausted...
85
00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:44,360
Go on. What you doing?
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00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:45,800
Get out.
87
00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:47,200
..and running out of oxygen.
88
00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:51,520
One more big push and you're out!
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00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:58,200
Ooh, there you are!
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00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:01,200
Hello.
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00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:04,280
You've done well, little one, eh?
92
00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:10,200
That must have been a huge effort,
wasn't it? To get out of there.
93
00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:14,160
See, it's easy to take it
for granted when you're here.
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00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:17,760
But, actually, it's a really
wondrous thing to see new life
95
00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:20,440
to come into the world,
there's something really special
96
00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:22,960
about that. Really special.
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00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:30,400
Mind you, saying that, they're not
the prettiest of owlets, are they?
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00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:35,560
This chick and her younger sibling
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have come from a pair of captive
barn owls.
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00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:40,840
OWLET SQUEAK
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00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:45,240
As they grow, they'll give us a rare
and incredible opportunity
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00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:48,160
to learn more about
these secretive birds.
103
00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:52,400
We've already thought of a name,
which is Luna.
104
00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:56,480
We always tend to give
our birds names
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because they become part of the
family.
106
00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:12,360
With Lloyd's love and care,
Luna grows quickly.
107
00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:20,240
And, just six days later,
she meets her younger sister.
108
00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:25,320
Lloyd and Rose call her Lily.
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00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:37,920
Once the owlets are strong enough,
it's time to bring them home.
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Hello! Hello!
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SHE LAUGHS
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All right? There you are.
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SHE LAUGHS
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They're so cute.
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Come on, then.
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00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:04,120
During these early days and weeks,
Lloyd and Rose need to give
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00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:06,480
Luna and Lily
round the clock attention.
118
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Go on. Delicious!
119
00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:13,840
'When they hatch, they're blind,
completely helpless'
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00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:16,720
they can't even regulate their own
body temperature,
121
00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:18,120
and they need four feeds a day.
122
00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:21,440
'It's just like babies, really.
123
00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:24,000
'But you've taken
on the responsibility'
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so you just have to get on with it.
125
00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:33,440
The Owlets have a long way to
go before they transform
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00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:36,080
into magnificent super-powered owls.
127
00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:41,680
Now, shall we write down what
you did today, eh?
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00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:44,120
Nature will play its part,
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00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:48,240
but, right now, they're entirely
dependent on Lloyd and Rose.
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00:09:56,440 --> 00:09:58,960
By the evening,
everyone's exhausted.
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00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:07,280
But in the wild, this is the time
when most owls are waking up.
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00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:09,760
OWL HOOTS
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00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:16,200
The tawny owl haunts our nights.
134
00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:23,160
But why choose to live in this dark
and difficult time of day?
135
00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:25,560
OWL CALLS
136
00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:31,480
With the help of a special
heat-seeking camera,
137
00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:33,880
we can enter this hidden,
nocturnal world.
138
00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:40,600
It's springtime
in the Highlands of Scotland.
139
00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:46,280
At this time of year,
male owls are feeling the pressure.
140
00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:53,800
This one has a family of hungry
mouths to feed in a nearby nest box.
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The thermal camera reveals
something else.
142
00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:04,760
Many mammals are active at night.
143
00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:15,960
So, despite the dark,
144
00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,120
it's an ideal time to go hunting.
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Success.
146
00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:35,920
The female comes straight over
to collect the catch.
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Her owlets are a month old,
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with a growing appetite.
149
00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:50,280
One mouse won't be enough.
150
00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:56,760
But luckily there's plenty more
where that came from.
151
00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:04,920
No other bird of prey can
hunt in such darkness.
152
00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:09,000
So, at night,
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00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:11,320
owls have the skies to themselves.
154
00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:16,200
It's one of the keys
to their success.
155
00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:22,280
But how are they able to see
in the dark?
156
00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:32,360
This is where owls deploy
the first of their superpowers.
157
00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:37,320
Owls have characteristically
big eyes.
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00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:44,920
A tawny owl's eyes take up
a staggering 70% of its skull.
159
00:12:51,560 --> 00:12:53,760
For us, it's only 5%.
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00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:00,960
These large eyes enable the owl
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00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:03,440
to gather as much of the available
light as possible.
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00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:08,280
At the back of the eye,
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the retina has a particularly high
density of rod cells.
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These cells are extremely
sensitive in low light,
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capable of resolving
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00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:20,840
an extra layer of detail,
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00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:22,440
which is sent to the brain
168
00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:24,280
via the optic nerve.
169
00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:32,720
These special adaptations mean
a tawny owl can see an image
170
00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:35,400
two and a half times brighter
than the one we see...
171
00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:45,440
..which helps it target small
mammals lurking in dark undergrowth.
172
00:13:51,720 --> 00:13:54,400
But tawny owls have another
incredible skill.
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They're territorial birds,
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00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:03,920
and, as they fly around
their home range,
175
00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:06,200
they create a mental map.
176
00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,400
This means they can
find their way in the dark,
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00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:14,080
avoiding unseen obstacles.
178
00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:21,440
So, it's the owl's formidable
memory,
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00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:23,400
combined with their
sensitive vision,
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00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:26,680
that helps them take advantage
of the night-time world.
181
00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:39,680
At two weeks old,
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Luna and Lily open their eyes...
183
00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:49,640
..but it's another few days before
they can focus on anything.
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00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:56,320
OWLET PEEPS
Yes!
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Now at three and four weeks old,
186
00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:00,800
they're starting to
take in their surroundings.
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THEY CHUCKLE
188
00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:07,120
Oi, oi! Oi, oi!
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00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:08,720
ROSE LAUGHS
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00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:12,120
To encourage their development,
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Lloyd and Rose take the owlets to
meet the children at a local school.
192
00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:17,720
Hello, everybody.
CHILDREN: Hello.
193
00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:19,080
Hello.
194
00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:21,320
OK?
195
00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:23,680
Well, this one here is Luna.
196
00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:24,920
Luna?
197
00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:26,600
Yes, and that's Lily.
198
00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:31,040
I've got a pet rabbit called Lily.
Have you? Have you? Ah! Oh!
199
00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:33,520
Her nice wing feathers are
starting to grow now, you can see.
200
00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:37,000
Yeah. I think
they can fly but they can't.
201
00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:39,640
No. You know why?
Because they're still too small.
202
00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:42,040
It's a unique
opportunity for the children
203
00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:44,080
to learn more about owls...
204
00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:47,400
That is the egg that Lily
hatched from.
205
00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:50,560
..and it's also clear how far
the owlets have come.
206
00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:54,440
So, when she hatched,
only three weeks ago, 20 days ago,
207
00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:56,480
she fitted in there. Look.
208
00:15:57,800 --> 00:15:59,920
She was smaller than her
own head is now.
209
00:15:59,920 --> 00:16:02,840
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Isn't that amazing?
210
00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:06,480
Now, who knows what's really
clever about what owls can do?
211
00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:09,360
They can see in the dark.
That's it! Well done.
212
00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:11,360
Now to be able to see at night,
it's not easy,
213
00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:13,720
but owls have very, very good eyes.
214
00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:14,960
They're very clever birds.
215
00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:18,120
Good night vision is probably
the owl's best-known superpower.
216
00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:20,840
There we are. What do you think?
217
00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:23,080
She's as soft as cotton wool.
She is!
218
00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:26,720
But Luna was developing another
one of her senses...
219
00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:29,800
..even before she hatched.
220
00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:32,000
What do you think?
Shall we check on its progress?
221
00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:33,040
Let's have a look.
222
00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:37,480
On occasions, if you call to 'em,
if you chip to 'em,
223
00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:40,960
they actually call back to you.
I'll shush to him.
224
00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:43,160
Shusssh.
225
00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:44,800
OWLET CHEEPS
226
00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:46,640
I heard it! Amazing.
227
00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:50,040
Remarkably, owlets recognise
the calls of their parents
228
00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:51,920
even from inside the egg...
Shusssh.
229
00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:54,760
CHEEPING
It's amazing! Did you hear it?
230
00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:56,440
Tiny little "Chip, chip."
231
00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:57,800
We'll put him back in, then.
232
00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:01,080
..which suggests sound must be
an important part of their world.
233
00:17:05,120 --> 00:17:09,280
But just how important is hearing to
adult owls in the wild?
234
00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:18,240
At a disused aerodrome in Essex,
235
00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:20,960
this barn owl is on the lookout
for her next meal.
236
00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:34,600
Cold weather, and a blanket of snow,
have left her short of food,
237
00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:37,200
so she's been forced to
hunt in the day.
238
00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:43,720
And now she's got competition...
239
00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:46,560
..a kestrel.
240
00:18:03,120 --> 00:18:06,640
It's one of the downsides of hunting
during the daylight hours.
241
00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:16,200
And, even worse, the snow means
she can't see her prey.
242
00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:21,280
So how do you find your food
243
00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:23,160
when it's hiding out of sight?
244
00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:36,520
Hunger forces the kestrel
to take a chance...
245
00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:44,720
..but his razor sharp eyesight
isn't enough in these conditions.
246
00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:51,760
Luckily for the barn owl, she has
another superpower in her armoury.
247
00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:10,440
Flying blind won't stop her eating.
248
00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:19,720
Because, although she can't see it,
she can hear her prey,
249
00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:21,440
even under the snow.
250
00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:25,920
The kestrel simply doesn't
have what it takes.
251
00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:36,840
So how does an owl's
extraordinary hearing work?
252
00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:40,920
OWL HOOTS
253
00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:44,760
Some owls have ear tufts...
254
00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:48,480
..but these feathers aren't used
for hearing.
255
00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:52,720
They're more about
communicating mood.
256
00:19:55,560 --> 00:20:00,120
In fact, the owl's whole head
is designed for listening.
257
00:20:01,880 --> 00:20:06,000
Its distinctive round face
is shaped like a satellite dish,
258
00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:07,720
specifically to detect sound.
259
00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:16,680
A ring of stiff feathers channel
the sound towards the true ears,
260
00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:20,320
which are hidden
at the side of the face.
261
00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:32,120
Some species of owl have one ear
opening higher than the other.
262
00:20:34,360 --> 00:20:36,280
This unique adaptation
263
00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:39,480
allows the owl to work out what
height a sound is coming from,
264
00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:40,880
as well as the direction.
265
00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:45,080
Sound arriving at the left ear
266
00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:46,720
before it reaches the right,
267
00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:48,960
tells the owl it's coming from
below.
268
00:20:57,280 --> 00:21:00,200
At certain frequencies,
an owl's hearing
269
00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:02,320
is ten times more sensitive
than ours.
270
00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:10,920
This extraordinary skill
271
00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:14,160
means this great grey owl
can locate its prey...
272
00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:19,840
..even when it's out of sight.
273
00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:39,640
Come on.
274
00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:41,080
Shusssh.
275
00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:42,800
Kensa.
276
00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:45,440
Hearing is a key part of the owl's
hunting strategy...
277
00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:46,880
Kensa.
278
00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:48,480
..in any environment.
279
00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:52,040
Shusssh. Good girl. Come on.
280
00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:57,400
Lloyd and Rose have an 11-year-old
barn owl called Kensa...
281
00:21:57,400 --> 00:21:58,840
Good girl.
282
00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:02,080
..who they've trained to hunt
to the sound of a beeper box.
283
00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:07,160
BEEPING
284
00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:08,760
When she hears that beep,
285
00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:11,240
Kensa knows exactly where to
find her food.
286
00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:15,200
But what about at night?
287
00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:18,000
Just how much is
she relying on her hearing then?
288
00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:21,800
So, that can go here.
289
00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:23,640
To find out,
290
00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:25,640
Lloyd's made an indoor
hunting ground.
291
00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:29,120
So, we're going to put
the beeper in there.
292
00:22:29,120 --> 00:22:30,120
Over to you, Rose.
293
00:22:30,120 --> 00:22:32,960
He wants to be certain Kensa's
not using her sight.
294
00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:35,600
I want to make it totally dark.
295
00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:38,080
So he creates an artificial night.
296
00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:43,720
OK, Rose? Yep.
297
00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:45,560
Right, here we go.
298
00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:46,640
Torch off.
299
00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:49,240
OK, ready?
300
00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:51,240
With our infrared cameras,
301
00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:53,480
we can see what's going on,
302
00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:56,880
but Lloyd, Rose
and, importantly, Kensa
303
00:22:56,880 --> 00:22:59,160
are in total darkness.
304
00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:01,320
KENSA HISSES
Hold on, where is she?
305
00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:03,640
She must be by me,
by the sounds of it.
306
00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:05,560
BEEPING
307
00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:08,520
Sounds like she's under my feet
somewhere. Shusssh.
308
00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:10,760
KENSA CRIES
309
00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:12,960
I can't hear, has she got it?
310
00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:14,880
I don't know.
Do you think she's got it?
311
00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:16,240
Oh, my gosh, she's got it!
312
00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:17,680
THEY LAUGH
313
00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:19,680
Using only her hearing,
314
00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:21,840
Kensa locks straight on
to the beeper.
315
00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:23,000
BEEPING
316
00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:25,760
That sounds good!
317
00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:28,400
I'll get me torch, hold on. Kensa.
318
00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:31,280
Shusssh. Good girl, you clever owl.
319
00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:33,520
Who needs eyes
when you've got ears like that, eh?
320
00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:37,160
But the owl's super-human hearing
321
00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:40,400
is made even more effective
by their party trick.
322
00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:50,960
They can turn their head through
an incredible 270 degrees.
323
00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:55,200
If we did that,
324
00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:58,480
we'd cut off the blood supply
to our brains and pass out.
325
00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:03,680
But owls have evolved
special adaptations in their necks.
326
00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:07,760
As their head turns,
327
00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:10,280
wide spaces in the neck vertebrae
328
00:24:10,280 --> 00:24:12,920
make sure the blood vessels
don't get crushed...
329
00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:18,200
..and enlarged arteries at the top
of the neck create a reservoir,
330
00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:21,040
which keeps a constant
supply of blood to the brain.
331
00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:28,520
This astonishing
flexibility allows the owl
332
00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:32,200
to focus its super-sensitive vision
and hearing...
333
00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:33,880
directly at its prey.
334
00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:03,080
In just two months,
335
00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:05,320
there's been an amazing
transformation.
336
00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:11,760
Luna and Lily have
grown from helpless little chicks...
337
00:25:15,480 --> 00:25:17,600
..to near-adult barn owls.
338
00:25:22,120 --> 00:25:23,440
Now their fluffy down
339
00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:24,800
is being pushed out
340
00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:26,280
by proper flight feathers...
341
00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:30,320
Ooh! Come on, then.
342
00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:32,760
Shusssh.
SHE CHUCKLES
343
00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:35,200
..which marks the arrival
of the biggest milestone
344
00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:37,120
in their young lives.
345
00:25:37,120 --> 00:25:38,640
Luna, come and get weighed.
346
00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:40,440
Now Luna's started using her wings,
347
00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:42,480
she's being slightly less
cooperative
348
00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:44,320
about her daily weigh-in.
349
00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:46,960
Luna, I know you're hungry.
350
00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:48,360
Come on, then.
351
00:25:48,360 --> 00:25:50,000
Come on, then.
352
00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:52,280
Good girl. Now, steady.
353
00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:54,400
Don't go mad.
354
00:25:54,400 --> 00:25:56,720
Steady, steady.
355
00:25:56,720 --> 00:25:59,360
Good girl. That's it.
356
00:25:59,360 --> 00:26:01,400
Wahey!
357
00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:04,640
Luna, you can fly!
358
00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:08,720
Luna's very first flight starts with
a leap of faith from the scales...
359
00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:14,880
..and now she's hop-flying
every chance she can get...
360
00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:20,520
..leaving her younger sister
to stare in wonder.
361
00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:28,000
ROSE LAUGHS
362
00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:29,560
She's on the tripod!
363
00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:31,240
Oh, yeah, she might.
364
00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:33,680
Mastering this new skill
doesn't happen over night.
365
00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:36,120
She might have another go, though.
366
00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:45,240
But it's something she must
get right,
367
00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:48,360
as flight is perhaps an
owl's greatest superpower.
368
00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:51,560
Luna.
369
00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:54,120
Don't fall in the bucket of water!
370
00:26:55,600 --> 00:26:57,840
Ooh, you're seeing what water is.
371
00:26:57,840 --> 00:26:59,440
Is that interesting?
372
00:27:01,520 --> 00:27:02,920
Shusssh. Oop!
373
00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:07,200
THEY LAUGH
374
00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:11,040
I told you not to
go in the bucket of water.
375
00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:12,080
Oh, poor thing!
376
00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:13,680
You'll get very wet.
377
00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:15,960
I don't think you'll do that
again in a hurry.
378
00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:21,680
Luna and Lily are still spending
the night in the house.
379
00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:29,760
Now Luna can fly,
nowhere is out of bounds.
380
00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:38,880
And her enthusiastic
flight practice
381
00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:40,520
is getting her into trouble.
382
00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:45,360
Whoa! That's on the picture, Luna.
383
00:27:45,360 --> 00:27:46,920
THEY LAUGH
384
00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:48,640
That bird!
385
00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:50,280
But Luna's lucky.
386
00:27:50,280 --> 00:27:53,800
A house is a relatively safe place
to practise this vital skill.
387
00:28:00,440 --> 00:28:04,040
In the wild, some owls face
a monumental challenge.
388
00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:11,360
Californian redwoods
are giants of the forest,
389
00:28:11,360 --> 00:28:13,120
the tallest trees in the world.
390
00:28:15,040 --> 00:28:18,480
And perched precariously
at the top of this one
391
00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:20,320
is a family of great grey owls.
392
00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:32,720
It's a wonderfully safe
place for a nest.
393
00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:35,360
OWLET CRIES
394
00:28:35,360 --> 00:28:37,800
But when it comes to
learning to fly,
395
00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:39,560
there are some obvious challenges.
396
00:28:49,120 --> 00:28:52,920
Launching yourself off the
equivalent of a 30-storey building
397
00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:54,360
takes some courage.
398
00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:07,400
Until they get the hang of it,
399
00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:09,680
these owlets rely on being
able to cling on.
400
00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:21,240
This is less flying,
401
00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:23,080
more falling with style.
402
00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:34,440
He makes it safely to the ground.
403
00:29:44,840 --> 00:29:46,880
But they must keep practising,
404
00:29:46,880 --> 00:29:49,680
so now it's a long hard climb
405
00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:51,120
back to the top.
406
00:29:59,400 --> 00:30:02,720
And it's not
long before they have lift off.
407
00:30:12,640 --> 00:30:15,680
Although Lily's a week
younger than Luna...
408
00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:17,960
SHE WHISTLES
Whoo!
409
00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:21,200
..like any younger sibling,
she's not going to be left behind.
410
00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:23,600
You're a clever, clever,
clever girl.
411
00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:26,080
I know you're hungry.
412
00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:29,120
Before long,
she's progressed from flapping...
413
00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:30,520
to flying.
414
00:30:31,720 --> 00:30:33,480
ROSE LAUGHS
415
00:30:33,480 --> 00:30:36,800
Ah, that is so clever!
416
00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:40,000
The power of flight is something
that sets birds apart.
417
00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:41,800
SHE WHISTLES
418
00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:43,720
Lily!
419
00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:45,360
Whoo!
420
00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:48,000
And owls have refined
their technique
421
00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:50,040
with some incredible adaptations.
422
00:30:53,720 --> 00:30:55,000
Ready?
423
00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:56,920
You ready? Yep.
424
00:30:56,920 --> 00:30:58,560
Lily!
425
00:30:58,560 --> 00:30:59,760
Come on.
426
00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:03,600
To fully understand this superpower,
we need to go back to basics.
427
00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:04,760
Lily!
428
00:31:08,040 --> 00:31:10,480
What does it take
for Lily to get airborne?
429
00:31:13,280 --> 00:31:16,640
To find out, Lloyd and Rose
have enlisted the help
430
00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:19,880
of bird expert
Professor Graham Martin...
431
00:31:19,880 --> 00:31:22,560
and high speed cameraman
Mark Payne-Gill.
432
00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:34,920
For a bird to take to the air,
433
00:31:34,920 --> 00:31:37,480
it has to overcome two forces.
434
00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:41,280
Gravity,
435
00:31:41,280 --> 00:31:43,280
the invisible pull that
keeps us grounded...
436
00:31:44,640 --> 00:31:46,080
..and drag,
437
00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:48,200
which is the resistance
we experience
438
00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:49,520
as we move through the air.
439
00:31:53,200 --> 00:31:56,560
Birds use their wings
to create lift...
440
00:31:56,560 --> 00:31:57,880
and thrust.
441
00:32:03,560 --> 00:32:04,800
But how do they do it?
442
00:32:09,280 --> 00:32:11,880
Birds' wings are the
shape of an aerofoil.
443
00:32:14,120 --> 00:32:16,160
Air travelling over the top
of the wing
444
00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:19,200
has to travel faster
than air travelling beneath.
445
00:32:20,840 --> 00:32:24,080
This creates a difference
in air pressure,
446
00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:25,720
which generates lift.
447
00:32:28,160 --> 00:32:29,960
To gain forward momentum,
448
00:32:29,960 --> 00:32:31,720
birds flap their wings.
449
00:32:33,160 --> 00:32:35,840
This makes the air flowing over them
spiral off the trailing edge.
450
00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:41,680
These vortices
451
00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:44,480
thrust the bird forwards and
upwards.
452
00:32:52,080 --> 00:32:54,760
These are the basic
principles of all flight.
453
00:32:57,200 --> 00:32:59,520
But what's so unique
about the way owls fly?
454
00:33:02,880 --> 00:33:05,720
We fly quite a few different
types of bird... Yeah.
455
00:33:05,720 --> 00:33:07,560
..of varying sizes. Yeah.
456
00:33:07,560 --> 00:33:09,760
But the one thing
I notice about the owls
457
00:33:09,760 --> 00:33:12,040
is they always appear to be
a lot slower
458
00:33:12,040 --> 00:33:14,080
when they're flying than
the other birds.
459
00:33:14,080 --> 00:33:16,280
Well, all birds have got
different wing shapes
460
00:33:16,280 --> 00:33:18,040
and they can fly
at different speeds -
461
00:33:18,040 --> 00:33:19,720
it's just like aircraft.
462
00:33:19,720 --> 00:33:22,160
So if you look at the wing
size of a barn owl,
463
00:33:22,160 --> 00:33:24,280
it's actually got a very big wing,
464
00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:26,840
and so they can fly very slow,
very controlled.
465
00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:33,520
To really understand
the barn owl's slow flight,
466
00:33:33,520 --> 00:33:37,120
Lloyd's putting Lily to the test
against two of his other birds.
467
00:33:43,480 --> 00:33:45,440
Maisie the greylag goose,
468
00:33:45,440 --> 00:33:47,360
a long distance endurance flier...
469
00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:53,040
..and Moses the peregrine falcon -
470
00:33:53,040 --> 00:33:55,200
one of the fastest birds on earth.
471
00:34:08,280 --> 00:34:10,960
The peregrine takes the lead.
472
00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:13,560
Its long and pointed wings
are quite flat,
473
00:34:13,560 --> 00:34:16,240
designed for speed
and manoeuvrability,
474
00:34:16,240 --> 00:34:17,800
which it needs to hunt.
475
00:34:21,280 --> 00:34:22,200
The goose is next.
476
00:34:23,720 --> 00:34:25,960
Weighing three kilograms,
477
00:34:25,960 --> 00:34:29,800
its relatively short and narrow
wings work hard to get it airborne,
478
00:34:29,800 --> 00:34:32,440
but once up, it can
sustain this for hours.
479
00:34:39,360 --> 00:34:43,000
The barn owl has the largest
wings in relation to its body
480
00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:45,440
and its aerofoil is very curved,
481
00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:47,920
which generates a huge amount
of lift.
482
00:34:49,920 --> 00:34:52,520
So the barn owl can fly slower
483
00:34:52,520 --> 00:34:56,000
and with fewer wingbeats
than most other birds.
484
00:34:56,000 --> 00:34:59,080
Whoo! Good girl.
485
00:35:00,680 --> 00:35:02,880
But why is that important?
486
00:35:02,880 --> 00:35:04,960
Sometimes when you're watching
the owls fly,
487
00:35:04,960 --> 00:35:06,360
they go so slowly
488
00:35:06,360 --> 00:35:09,240
it looks as if they're not going to
be able to maintain flight.
489
00:35:09,240 --> 00:35:12,200
That's right.
They are actually flying so slow
490
00:35:12,200 --> 00:35:14,320
that they're very, very close
to stalling.
491
00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:16,560
But, of course,
that's what they need to do
492
00:35:16,560 --> 00:35:18,960
because when they're doing that
very, very slow flight,
493
00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:21,200
they're hunting.
494
00:35:21,200 --> 00:35:23,640
It may be just a little
rustle in the grass,
495
00:35:23,640 --> 00:35:26,080
so they've got to be in a position
to drop out the sky
496
00:35:26,080 --> 00:35:27,080
and investigate it.
497
00:35:31,440 --> 00:35:34,000
And get a nice, tasty vole.
Absolutely, yeah.
498
00:35:37,040 --> 00:35:39,080
Owls have evolved a wing design
499
00:35:39,080 --> 00:35:42,240
perfectly suited for their aerial
hunting strategy.
500
00:35:44,800 --> 00:35:47,000
Slow, yet deadly.
501
00:35:50,840 --> 00:35:52,920
But the refinements don't
stop there.
502
00:35:54,920 --> 00:35:57,040
These birds have fine-tuned
their flight
503
00:35:57,040 --> 00:35:59,400
so each species has
subtle adaptations
504
00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:01,000
for the environment it lives in.
505
00:36:06,120 --> 00:36:07,720
Like the barn owl,
506
00:36:07,720 --> 00:36:11,360
these short-eared owls
have very large, broad wings,
507
00:36:11,360 --> 00:36:14,840
ideal for flying slowly whilst
hunting over open ground.
508
00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:21,960
Owls that live in woodland,
like tawny owls,
509
00:36:21,960 --> 00:36:24,240
have shorter, more rounded wings
510
00:36:24,240 --> 00:36:26,400
to help them manoeuvre
between trees.
511
00:36:31,320 --> 00:36:32,920
Wherever they live,
512
00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:35,360
all owls have an amazing
aerial agility.
513
00:36:38,400 --> 00:36:41,120
They're even able to
take off vertically from standing.
514
00:36:46,720 --> 00:36:48,120
It's a great defensive move,
515
00:36:48,120 --> 00:36:50,560
especially when you've
got young to protect.
516
00:36:50,560 --> 00:36:51,760
SHARP BIRDCALL
517
00:36:53,160 --> 00:36:54,640
SHARP BIRDCALL
518
00:37:02,360 --> 00:37:06,200
A dive-bombing arctic skua
is no match for the snowy owl.
519
00:37:19,400 --> 00:37:22,760
Such mastery of the skies
seems to make these owls fearless...
520
00:37:25,720 --> 00:37:28,680
..even against one of the
Arctic's largest predators.
521
00:37:34,840 --> 00:37:36,120
OWL SHRIEKS
522
00:37:48,480 --> 00:37:49,680
OWL SHRIEKS
523
00:38:02,680 --> 00:38:05,720
Her supreme flying skills
drive the wolves away...
524
00:38:12,960 --> 00:38:14,280
..and her family is safe.
525
00:38:24,640 --> 00:38:27,160
Owls have one more amazing
flying skill...
526
00:38:31,720 --> 00:38:33,960
..and this one is totally unique.
527
00:38:37,840 --> 00:38:40,280
Floating across the meadow,
528
00:38:40,280 --> 00:38:42,680
the barn owl is ghost-like
in appearance...
529
00:38:45,080 --> 00:38:47,160
..and mysteriously quiet, too.
530
00:38:50,400 --> 00:38:52,840
But just how quiet is
a hunting barn owl?
531
00:38:56,320 --> 00:38:57,680
Kensa.
532
00:38:57,680 --> 00:38:59,160
Shusssh.
533
00:38:59,160 --> 00:39:02,640
To find out, Lloyd's
taken Kensa to a special studio...
534
00:39:05,440 --> 00:39:06,480
..where Graham...
535
00:39:06,480 --> 00:39:08,080
WINGBEATS
536
00:39:08,080 --> 00:39:11,560
..and sound recordist Gary Moore
are going to put her to the test.
537
00:39:16,000 --> 00:39:18,720
..against Smudge the pigeon...
538
00:39:20,880 --> 00:39:22,720
..and Moses the peregrine.
539
00:39:28,200 --> 00:39:29,840
The birds' challenge -
540
00:39:29,840 --> 00:39:33,080
to fly over a series of
super-sensitive microphones.
541
00:39:33,080 --> 00:39:34,440
ROSE WHISTLES
542
00:39:34,440 --> 00:39:35,960
WINGBEATS
543
00:39:35,960 --> 00:39:37,360
Good girl.
544
00:39:37,360 --> 00:39:39,200
THEY MURMUR
545
00:39:39,200 --> 00:39:40,800
Moses.
546
00:39:40,800 --> 00:39:41,800
Mo.
547
00:39:44,080 --> 00:39:45,600
WINGBEATS
548
00:39:48,840 --> 00:39:51,160
And now it's Kensa's turn.
549
00:39:52,960 --> 00:39:54,000
Shusssh.
550
00:39:54,000 --> 00:39:55,840
Here we go!
551
00:39:55,840 --> 00:39:58,280
Shusssh.
KENSA SHRIEKS
552
00:40:02,040 --> 00:40:03,680
KENSA SHRIEKS
553
00:40:03,680 --> 00:40:06,240
Did you hear anything?
Wow, that was really good.
554
00:40:06,240 --> 00:40:08,840
No, nothing at all.
Absolutely quiet.
555
00:40:08,840 --> 00:40:10,360
It was amazing!
556
00:40:11,680 --> 00:40:14,080
But what have the
microphones picked up?
557
00:40:14,080 --> 00:40:16,160
TUB RATTLES
558
00:40:16,160 --> 00:40:19,200
The decibel waveforms
show the sound being generated
559
00:40:19,200 --> 00:40:21,640
by the birds in flight.
560
00:40:21,640 --> 00:40:22,960
WINGBEATS
561
00:40:26,160 --> 00:40:29,000
Each spike is an
individual wingbeat.
562
00:40:31,960 --> 00:40:33,400
THUD
563
00:40:35,840 --> 00:40:37,680
WINGBEATS
564
00:40:45,280 --> 00:40:46,280
THUD
565
00:40:52,800 --> 00:40:54,120
But with the barn owl...
566
00:40:56,560 --> 00:40:57,960
..there's almost nothing.
567
00:41:00,640 --> 00:41:03,280
Even our array of super-sensitive
microphones
568
00:41:03,280 --> 00:41:05,920
fail to pick up any sound
of Kensa in flight.
569
00:41:05,920 --> 00:41:08,120
..and here's the owl doing
exactly the same.
570
00:41:08,120 --> 00:41:10,360
KENSA SHRIEKS
571
00:41:14,840 --> 00:41:15,960
KENSA SHRIEKS
572
00:41:17,280 --> 00:41:19,600
Nothing, nothing at all.
573
00:41:19,600 --> 00:41:21,280
I'll play it again.
KENSA SHRIEKS
574
00:41:25,680 --> 00:41:27,640
KENSA SHRIEKS
575
00:41:27,640 --> 00:41:29,440
There's not a sound. Yes.
576
00:41:29,440 --> 00:41:31,520
That is really impressive, isn't it?
577
00:41:31,520 --> 00:41:34,240
Yes, it shows that they
really are silent fliers.
578
00:41:35,720 --> 00:41:38,000
So how does a barn owl fly
so silently?
579
00:41:44,480 --> 00:41:46,240
WINGBEATS
580
00:41:49,760 --> 00:41:53,080
When air moves, it generates sound.
581
00:41:58,720 --> 00:42:01,960
The more movement,
the greater the sound.
582
00:42:05,840 --> 00:42:08,280
The pigeon's large body
and small wings
583
00:42:08,280 --> 00:42:12,120
mean it can't stay airborne
without a lot of fast flapping.
584
00:42:15,480 --> 00:42:19,240
This creates turbulence
in the feathers below.
585
00:42:19,240 --> 00:42:21,280
WINGBEATS
586
00:42:24,520 --> 00:42:26,840
The peregrine has much larger wings,
587
00:42:26,840 --> 00:42:30,200
which it uses to build up speed
and chase down its prey.
588
00:42:54,680 --> 00:42:56,800
The barn owl is far more graceful.
589
00:43:08,640 --> 00:43:11,440
Kensa's large wings and small body
590
00:43:11,440 --> 00:43:13,680
make it easier for her
to generate lift.
591
00:43:19,160 --> 00:43:21,600
So, just one gentle wingbeat
592
00:43:21,600 --> 00:43:24,080
sees her gliding effortlessly
through the air...
593
00:43:26,680 --> 00:43:30,120
..creating little more than
a whisper in the feathers below.
594
00:43:39,280 --> 00:43:41,120
But that's not the only thing
595
00:43:41,120 --> 00:43:44,360
that helps the barn owl
achieve near-silent flight.
596
00:43:52,240 --> 00:43:55,000
Its flight feathers have
noise-reducing fringes
597
00:43:55,000 --> 00:43:56,920
on the leading and trailing edges.
598
00:44:03,880 --> 00:44:06,080
And they have a velvet-like
top to them.
599
00:44:09,040 --> 00:44:12,680
These soft surfaces
absorb air movement,
600
00:44:12,680 --> 00:44:16,560
reducing any turbulence
and minimising sound.
601
00:44:22,120 --> 00:44:23,960
Birds like pigeons and peregrines
602
00:44:23,960 --> 00:44:26,200
don't have these
specialised features.
603
00:44:32,920 --> 00:44:35,120
So, why are they important
for an owl?
604
00:44:36,640 --> 00:44:40,600
I suppose being able to fly
so silently
605
00:44:40,600 --> 00:44:43,160
gives you two huge advantages
over your prey.
606
00:44:43,160 --> 00:44:46,120
Not only on a dark night,
if you were a vole,
607
00:44:46,120 --> 00:44:50,240
would you not hear your killer
coming - you wouldn't hear it!
608
00:44:50,240 --> 00:44:53,920
Also, it allows the owl, I suppose,
to pinpoint its prey
609
00:44:53,920 --> 00:44:56,600
without any interference
from the noise of their wings.
610
00:44:56,600 --> 00:44:58,160
It doesn't want to hear itself
611
00:44:58,160 --> 00:45:00,720
as it's trying to home in
on a very, very small sound.
612
00:45:00,720 --> 00:45:02,960
That's incredible, isn't it?
Absolutely.
613
00:45:04,800 --> 00:45:07,640
Silent flight is possibly
the greatest
614
00:45:07,640 --> 00:45:10,280
of all the owl's superpowers
615
00:45:10,280 --> 00:45:13,520
and it makes a huge difference
to their hunting success.
616
00:45:16,160 --> 00:45:18,920
But, like every
superpowered creature,
617
00:45:18,920 --> 00:45:21,440
owls have their kryptonite.
618
00:45:21,440 --> 00:45:22,920
THUNDER RUMBLES
619
00:45:27,520 --> 00:45:28,560
Rain.
620
00:45:38,720 --> 00:45:39,920
OWL CALLS
621
00:45:41,760 --> 00:45:45,400
This male, short-eared owl
has a young family back at the nest.
622
00:45:47,240 --> 00:45:49,600
When it rains, they're all at risk.
623
00:45:55,560 --> 00:45:59,120
Because there's a price to
pay for having silent feathers -
624
00:45:59,120 --> 00:46:01,440
they can't also be waterproof.
625
00:46:09,160 --> 00:46:10,520
The female hunkers down.
626
00:46:12,640 --> 00:46:16,080
She can't move, or her chicks will
be at risk of hypothermia.
627
00:46:20,480 --> 00:46:22,360
The male is struggling, too.
628
00:46:24,840 --> 00:46:27,240
He can't hear his prey
over the driving rain.
629
00:46:32,720 --> 00:46:35,400
So, today, his family will go
hungry.
630
00:46:42,760 --> 00:46:44,840
Wet weather can be fatal for owls.
631
00:46:51,440 --> 00:46:55,080
It's one of the reasons some don't
make it through their first winter.
632
00:47:10,560 --> 00:47:12,560
Learning to hunt for themselves
633
00:47:12,560 --> 00:47:14,600
is a challenge all young owls face
634
00:47:14,600 --> 00:47:16,400
if they're going to survive.
635
00:47:24,280 --> 00:47:26,960
Little owls fledge
between four and five weeks.
636
00:47:29,200 --> 00:47:33,040
After this, their parents encourage
them to fend for themselves.
637
00:47:37,760 --> 00:47:40,880
The adults usually hunt voles
and other small mammals...
638
00:47:44,120 --> 00:47:47,680
..but these pint-sized youngsters
don't have the experience
639
00:47:47,680 --> 00:47:49,520
to take on such tricky prey.
640
00:47:58,440 --> 00:48:01,520
So, they start by practising
on something a bit easier.
641
00:48:14,920 --> 00:48:17,640
Earthworms won't be enough
to see them through the winter...
642
00:48:21,000 --> 00:48:23,800
..but they're great for honing
their hunting technique.
643
00:48:33,200 --> 00:48:34,600
As birds of prey,
644
00:48:34,600 --> 00:48:37,880
owls are defined by their habit
for hunting small animals.
645
00:48:39,920 --> 00:48:42,920
Mastering the kill is a critical
survival skill...
646
00:48:47,440 --> 00:48:48,840
..but it's clearly not easy.
647
00:48:50,040 --> 00:48:52,640
So what exactly is it
youngsters need to learn?
648
00:48:55,160 --> 00:48:57,920
To find out, Lloyd's brought Kensa
649
00:48:57,920 --> 00:49:01,040
to meet animal locomotion scientist
Dr Jim Usherwood.
650
00:49:02,560 --> 00:49:06,520
Together they'll try to deconstruct
the moment she pounces on her prey.
651
00:49:09,160 --> 00:49:10,760
In Jim's laboratory,
652
00:49:10,760 --> 00:49:13,040
they've created
a mini hunting ground.
653
00:49:13,040 --> 00:49:14,440
That can go there.
654
00:49:14,440 --> 00:49:15,840
Got the beeper?
655
00:49:15,840 --> 00:49:19,280
They've hidden a beeper box
and some food in the long grass.
656
00:49:19,280 --> 00:49:20,320
Right...
657
00:49:20,320 --> 00:49:22,360
And, concealed beneath the turf,
658
00:49:22,360 --> 00:49:26,000
is a special device that can
measure the forces at work.
659
00:49:27,320 --> 00:49:28,640
BEEPING
660
00:49:36,080 --> 00:49:38,440
She's got it. There's a good girl.
661
00:49:41,840 --> 00:49:44,080
You clever old barn owl.
662
00:49:44,080 --> 00:49:48,520
How much force, then,
does she exert on the pounce?
663
00:49:48,520 --> 00:49:51,600
So, here we have the vertical
forces of the owl.
664
00:49:51,600 --> 00:49:54,400
And, so, there's the force of
taking off,
665
00:49:54,400 --> 00:49:56,880
and then you see some
fairly powerful flaps,
666
00:49:56,880 --> 00:49:59,320
and then she eases off the gas,
667
00:49:59,320 --> 00:50:02,200
uses gravity to come
back down at speed,
668
00:50:02,200 --> 00:50:04,640
hits the ground at about
five metres a second,
669
00:50:04,640 --> 00:50:08,240
with a force that's something like
12 times body weight. Wow.
670
00:50:13,160 --> 00:50:17,800
This is the moment an owl must bring
all its superpowers together.
671
00:50:24,920 --> 00:50:27,640
Hanging silently in the air,
672
00:50:27,640 --> 00:50:30,800
Kensa uses her hearing
and eyesight to find her target.
673
00:50:39,720 --> 00:50:42,160
She angles her face
to pinpoint the sound.
674
00:50:47,960 --> 00:50:49,920
Once she's locked on,
675
00:50:49,920 --> 00:50:53,480
she positions her entire body
for the pounce.
676
00:51:06,360 --> 00:51:08,320
And then, what I find
really interesting,
677
00:51:08,320 --> 00:51:10,000
look, when she comes down,
678
00:51:10,000 --> 00:51:12,760
basically she's going headfirst
towards the ground.
679
00:51:12,760 --> 00:51:15,600
And it's only now the legs
come forwards.
680
00:51:15,600 --> 00:51:18,160
But the legs are still
very, very bent,
681
00:51:18,160 --> 00:51:20,760
and, then, it's right at the very
end the legs extend
682
00:51:20,760 --> 00:51:22,920
and then you get that thump.
683
00:51:22,920 --> 00:51:25,240
So, she's coming down at
five metres a second.
684
00:51:25,240 --> 00:51:29,520
She's hitting the ground
at around 12 times her body weight.
685
00:51:29,520 --> 00:51:31,240
Mm-hm. Which would make sense,
686
00:51:31,240 --> 00:51:34,480
because primarily she's hunting
small mammals.
687
00:51:34,480 --> 00:51:37,040
So she wants to hit them
with as much force as possible,
688
00:51:37,040 --> 00:51:39,040
to disable it and kill it.
689
00:51:39,040 --> 00:51:41,760
What I was thinking was those long
legs would be useful
690
00:51:41,760 --> 00:51:43,480
to ease off the force -
691
00:51:43,480 --> 00:51:45,080
but she's not easing off at all.
692
00:51:45,080 --> 00:51:48,600
She's actually extending with her
legs just as she hits the ground,
693
00:51:48,600 --> 00:51:50,120
then gives it a good old thump.
694
00:51:53,880 --> 00:51:57,960
To put this in perspective,
the force of Kensa's pounce
695
00:51:57,960 --> 00:52:02,000
is the equivalent of a 12-tonne
truck hitting an 80kg man.
696
00:52:05,240 --> 00:52:06,400
It's unlikely her prey
697
00:52:06,400 --> 00:52:07,920
would survive the impact.
698
00:52:09,440 --> 00:52:11,560
You wouldn't want to be
a vole, would you, now?
699
00:52:11,560 --> 00:52:14,000
No, no. No,
life as a vole would be brief.
700
00:52:14,000 --> 00:52:15,000
LLOYD LAUGHS
701
00:52:29,040 --> 00:52:32,240
The journey to mastering
such finely-tuned superpowers
702
00:52:32,240 --> 00:52:33,280
starts early.
703
00:52:40,200 --> 00:52:43,480
It's now three months since
Luna and Lily entered the world.
704
00:52:50,960 --> 00:52:54,120
They started to use their senses
even before they hatched.
705
00:52:57,120 --> 00:52:58,280
Shusssh.
706
00:52:58,280 --> 00:52:59,920
OWLET CHEEPS
707
00:52:59,920 --> 00:53:02,920
I heard it! Amazing.
708
00:53:02,920 --> 00:53:05,200
First, their hearing.
709
00:53:08,000 --> 00:53:10,720
And then, within three weeks,
710
00:53:10,720 --> 00:53:13,760
they were using their eyesight
to explore their surroundings.
711
00:53:19,000 --> 00:53:22,160
Their development was
encouraged by Lloyd and Rose
712
00:53:22,160 --> 00:53:23,720
every step of the way.
713
00:53:23,720 --> 00:53:26,320
Who knows what's really clever
about what owls can do?
714
00:53:26,320 --> 00:53:29,240
They can see in the dark.
That's it! Well done.
715
00:53:30,560 --> 00:53:32,400
At just two months old,
716
00:53:32,400 --> 00:53:34,240
Luna and Lily started to fly.
717
00:53:35,720 --> 00:53:37,400
Wow!
718
00:53:38,920 --> 00:53:41,480
Whoa, that's on the picture, Luna.
719
00:53:51,680 --> 00:53:53,960
Now, at three months old,
720
00:53:53,960 --> 00:53:56,760
it's time to see if they can put it
all together.
721
00:54:00,000 --> 00:54:01,240
Shusssh.
722
00:54:01,240 --> 00:54:02,880
Come on, Luna.
723
00:54:02,880 --> 00:54:03,880
Luna.
724
00:54:03,880 --> 00:54:04,880
ROSE LAUGHS
725
00:54:04,880 --> 00:54:06,120
Hello.
726
00:54:06,120 --> 00:54:09,440
Mind your feet! Lily, come here.
727
00:54:09,440 --> 00:54:11,200
Luna!
728
00:54:11,200 --> 00:54:12,760
Luna and Lily have grown up
729
00:54:12,760 --> 00:54:14,400
in an extraordinary family...
730
00:54:14,400 --> 00:54:16,480
Good girl.
731
00:54:16,480 --> 00:54:19,480
..and become bold and
confident birds.
732
00:54:19,480 --> 00:54:20,520
Lily! Yep.
733
00:54:22,760 --> 00:54:24,800
ROSE LAUGHS
734
00:54:24,800 --> 00:54:27,840
Luna, you're not meant to
be on the camera.
735
00:54:27,840 --> 00:54:30,080
Lily!
736
00:54:30,080 --> 00:54:33,160
Good girl. Good girl, good girl!
737
00:54:33,160 --> 00:54:36,400
But despite their unusual
upbringing,
738
00:54:36,400 --> 00:54:40,240
out in the meadow, their
natural instincts kick in.
739
00:54:43,480 --> 00:54:47,360
They're hunting,
just like adult barn owls,
740
00:54:47,360 --> 00:54:50,400
using all their superpowers
of keen eyesight,
741
00:54:50,400 --> 00:54:52,440
extraordinary hearing
742
00:54:52,440 --> 00:54:54,440
and slow and silent flight.
743
00:54:57,920 --> 00:54:59,160
Shusssh.
744
00:54:59,160 --> 00:55:00,160
Good girl, come on.
745
00:55:02,000 --> 00:55:03,400
Nature has played its part...
746
00:55:03,400 --> 00:55:05,200
BEEPING
747
00:55:05,200 --> 00:55:06,680
Ooh, good girl. Got it?
748
00:55:06,680 --> 00:55:09,480
..and Lloyd and Rose have done
everything they can
749
00:55:09,480 --> 00:55:11,040
to get both birds to this moment.
750
00:55:11,040 --> 00:55:12,360
Got it stuck?
751
00:55:14,360 --> 00:55:15,440
There you go.
752
00:55:15,440 --> 00:55:19,440
But, while Lily continues to hone
her skills living alongside them...
753
00:55:21,080 --> 00:55:24,160
..there's been an unexpected twist
to her sister's story.
754
00:55:31,640 --> 00:55:33,040
One evening,
755
00:55:33,040 --> 00:55:35,200
Luna flew off...
756
00:55:35,200 --> 00:55:36,920
and she didn't come back.
757
00:55:40,800 --> 00:55:44,280
For Lloyd, it only underlines
her graduation
758
00:55:44,280 --> 00:55:46,440
from owlet to adult,
759
00:55:46,440 --> 00:55:50,120
reassuring him that he's equipped
her with everything she needs
760
00:55:50,120 --> 00:55:51,760
for an independent life.
761
00:55:53,160 --> 00:55:56,320
I've given her all the skills
that she needs to survive.
762
00:55:56,320 --> 00:55:59,200
I've been her parent.
She's chosen to go -
763
00:55:59,200 --> 00:56:01,040
it's her choice -
764
00:56:01,040 --> 00:56:05,240
and we always say they've
got that choice to stay or go.
765
00:56:05,240 --> 00:56:09,040
It's sad for me because you get
really attached to them,
766
00:56:09,040 --> 00:56:12,480
but they don't have those
trappings of human sentiments.
767
00:56:12,480 --> 00:56:14,720
She's just gone on to the wild
to do her own thing.
768
00:56:22,400 --> 00:56:27,080
Now, more than ever, Luna will rely
on those special skills
769
00:56:27,080 --> 00:56:28,520
that set owls apart.
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00:57:02,840 --> 00:57:08,040
For centuries, these enchanting
birds have captured our imagination.
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00:57:15,040 --> 00:57:18,920
With their haunting calls
and ghostly appearances,
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00:57:18,920 --> 00:57:22,320
owls add a magic
and mystery to our landscapes.
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00:57:35,720 --> 00:57:38,760
Their charismatic faces
are so familiar,
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00:57:38,760 --> 00:57:41,240
perhaps because they look
that bit more human
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00:57:41,240 --> 00:57:42,440
than other birds.
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00:57:55,720 --> 00:57:57,680
But it's their superpowers
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00:57:57,680 --> 00:57:59,920
that make them one of the most
successful
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00:57:59,920 --> 00:58:02,200
and best-loved birds on our planet.
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