From Hancock County Naturlalists

About 1 second after this photo was taken this morning, 2 things were learned:

  1. Owlet learned he could not fly!

  2. I learned Owlets can swim!

Its flight lasted about 5 feet and SPLASH…right in the middle of the river! It just kind of was a blob in the water. I am thinking to myself…OH NO am going to have to go on a rescue mission! After a few seconds it started using its wings to paddle itself through the water. However, instead of going to the opposite bank it came back to where it took off, but a little more wet!

  • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
    9·
    5 months ago

    I never gave thought to it before, but it makes sense they would be able to float for a while, being so light for their volume. Even the Fish Owls and Fishing Owls try to avoid getting wet though, so it is not a common occurrence.

    Here’s a short Audubon article about an adult being forced to swim after an unsuccessful nest takeover attempt. It has a very short video clip of an adult GHO doing the breast stroke.

    • JetpackJackson@feddit.de
      3·
      5 months ago

      Wow that’s so interesting! It was really cool to see him use his wings like that! Now I’m trying to remember if there was a scene in the Guardians of Gahoole books where the owls got soaked… I’m due for a reread but I only have 3 of the books lol

      • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
        2·
        5 months ago

        Ugh, I still haven’t gotten around to checking out GoG yet. I feel it’s kinda mandatory for me at this point.

        I’m still not done What an Owl Knows yet, and someone else had me download some Discworld I havent gotten to, and I’m only about a 1/4 into Link’s Awakening. So much owl adjacent media to cover! 😵

        • You@feddit.de
          3·
          5 months ago

          And Discworld is in your superb TBR because of the city-state of Ankh-Morpork that has an owl crowning the City Arms?

          • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
            3·
            5 months ago

            Oooo I didn’t really start it so I didn’t know it had a coat of arms!

            I got Guards! Guards!

              • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
                2·
                5 months ago

                I did read the first few pages when I downloaded it, and like they style of it. I am looking forward to getting to it.

                Just looked up the coat of arms and it also has my other favorite animal, the hippo! Double win!

                Now I’m even more looking forward to it!

                • You@feddit.de
                  2·
                  5 months ago

                  Pratchett loves wordplay and makes allusions to things that exist on roundworld. As an owl afficionado you surely caught the Mor(e)pork in the City name. That’s where the owl comes from.

                  • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
                    2·
                    5 months ago

                    Yup, the Morepork was in the Owl of the Year for a few rounds, and that was when Discworld kept getting brought up.

                    I’ve heard about it long before, but I generally avoid longer series. I feel ready to check it out now though.

            • JetpackJackson@feddit.de
              3·
              5 months ago

              Hey same here! Kept seeing a bunch of posts about the series and eventually decided to read it lol, I’m liking it a lot so far