Jennifer Akkerman, is the author of the bestseller ‘The Ingenuity of Birds’ and has been writing about science, nature and biology for 30 years. He is a regular contributor to Scientific American, The New York Times, National Geographic and Natural History and now presents his latest book ‘The wisdom of owls‘.
‘The wisdom of owls‘ is a natural history of the world’s most enigmatic birds, analyzing the most unknown aspects of these animals. From why their eyes look the same as ours, to why we’re so fascinated by these mysterious birds of prey, symbols of wisdom and even prediction of death.
For The New York Times One of the standout books of 2023, this work is full of praise, “a warm and pleasant guide, so enthusiastic about the subject that I suspect even those indifferent to birds will be delighted by their encounters with the birds. ” owls”.
Ackerman It covers topics as diverse as their evolution, natural history, their romantic relationships and parenting styles, as well as aspects related to their instincts, emotions and anatomy.
In the collective imagination there is a very uniform idea of owls: nocturnal animals, with large plumage and with such a satellite dish on their face. Why do you think details such as the fact that they can also hunt during the day or their great diversity are unknown?
I think it’s because the owls They are so elusive, so hard to see, that we have the wrong idea. Most people have never had one owl in the wild, and if they are lucky enough to see one, it is often only a fleeting glimpse. I was surprised by the number of species and the variety in size, appearance and behavior.
Are owls as smart as we think?
This is one of the questions I wanted to answer in the book. We think about it often owls as symbols of wisdom, but are they actually intelligent?
That’s what we used to think owls They acted only on instinct, that their behavior was simply genetic, and that their brains were so small and primitive that they were capable of only the simplest mental processes. We now know that the brain of owls They are large for their body size, just like ours. Like those of other birds, they are packed with neurons, making them highly efficient and possessing quite advanced mental abilities. Birds have taught us something: there’s more than one way to connect smart brains.
In the animal world there are different types of intelligence
The science of understanding the minds of animals other than humans is still in its infancy, and we still tend to view intelligence through our own lens. But we are increasingly aware that in the animal world there are different types of intelligence, different forms that are difficult to imagine. Owls may be very intelligent, but in ways that we cannot fully appreciate and are difficult to measure. What we do know is that they learn throughout their lives and exhibit very flexible behavior – they respond to new challenges in new ways – which is a pretty good measure of their intelligence.
Has this duality of the owls that you speak of, with a simultaneously tender and demonic image, caused you many problems in your relationship with people?
Some cultures, such as the Ainu of northern Japan, revere the owls and they regard them as protectors. But others see them as an emblem of evil, an evil omen associated with death. It is not difficult to understand that a ghostly white barn owl, with its strange nocturnal funeral cries and its habit of haunting empty buildings, could give rise to the idea of the bird incarnation of a demon or spiritual being.
In Belize, owls are considered bad luck. “Like a owl comes to your house and knocks, it means someone gets sick or dies. This view, or very slight variations on it, is a prevailing perspective in many countries, such as Zambia, Kenya and Nepal, and in these places these animals continue to be persecuted and even killed.
Another threat to owl conservation is human superstition
The products in which the image of the owls They are a good indicator of the attitude towards them in a society. In Brazil, Turkey and other countries you will find themed backpacks, clothing, jewelry, watches, figures and even beer. owls. But in the markets of Belize, where owls are still considered a sign of bad luck, these types of products are virtually unknown.
Citizen science has given owl research a boost
Citizen scientists – volunteers who volunteer their time to help – make a crucial contribution to owl research by counting them, calling them and studying their behavior. For example, in Canada they conduct counts of nighthawks, providing important data on their distribution and abundance in different habitats, which is essential for conservation efforts.
And what happens to the owls in Europe?
Volunteers participate in bird banding projects both in the US and throughout Europe. owls to study population fluctuations and migration patterns. They are incredibly dedicated people, and owl scientists say they couldn’t do their research without them.
What peculiarities do owls have compared to, for example, mammals?
I view emotions as mental or physical states that reinforce behaviors that help an animal meet the challenges of the environment. Owls are much more subtle in expressing emotions than many other animals, including mammals. But humans are trained to read people’s body language owls they can easily see the presence of those emotions.
Owls feel fear, stress, irritation, relaxation, comfort
This was something we only realized recently, when trainers and other specialists learned to read the subtle signals of a dog’s mood. owl. Take for example the long-eared owl. When he is very stressed or scared, he opens his eyes wide. His pupils dilate. It removes the feathers and keeps them close to the body. He stands still on his claws in a kind of vertical ‘cowardice’. a relaxed owl with short ears He has fluffy feathers, his eyes are only partially open, his pupils are small and his legs are raised. He has a very calm appearance.
One of the problems owls face is climate change
The biggest threat is habitat loss due to development and climate change. About a third of the species owls of the world are considered threatened (about 17% are threatened and another 11% are near threatened). And even many of those who don’t fall into this category are declining in number. However, there are some hopeful signs.
How do the owls adapt?
Some species appear to be adapting to global changes. In America, barred owls and screech owls They adapt well to changes in their habitat and their numbers are increasing. The same happens with the damn in Europe. They are species that have varied diets and can change their eating habits to take advantage of the availability of different types of prey.
As the climate changes, some populations of damn – the brown variant – grow. The brown color is an advantage in warm winters, which improves survival.
What are the most endangered owl species?
They are those that require a limited habitat, for example nest holes in old trees, or specific prey such as lemmings for the snowy owl.
Why are owls compared to wolves (but from the air)?
To the owls They are known as sky wolves because they are ferocious predators and hunt prey ranging from small rodents and birds to squirrels, rabbits, opossums and even other owls. Some large specimens, such as eagle owls and great horned owls, are like wolves, predators at the top of the food chain.
What makes owls so difficult to study?
Loose owls They exist all over the planet, on all continents except Antarctica. But indeed, they are not easy to study. They are elusive and reserved. They often live in remote areas and operate at a time when access to rural areas is difficult. It has taken decades of painstaking research to decipher these birds in detail. There are about 260 species.
And, as you say, to the surprise of researchers, new ones continue to emerge, such as hairy owl, which caught the attention of scientists when it was discovered high in the Andes Mountains of northern Peru in the 1970s. It is a small and strange owl, so different from the others – with its long, flowing facial feathers – that it was classified in its own genus, Xenoglauxthat means “strange owl” in Greek. But we know very little about him because he is very elusive.