Owl Power

Gr 5 Up—Owls are known to have keen eyesight, and this film informs viewers that there is much more to their hunting skills and their nocturnal habits. The main focus here is the manner in which scientists are able to study the owl's unique set of superpowers. Bird trainers Lloyd and Rose Buck provide a rare and up-close opportunity for viewers—two baby barn owls are seen hatching in an incubator. Barn owls are only one of about 240 different species in the world, but the film explains that all owls share the same physical features that allow them to be recognized as powerful predators: their sharp talons, curved beaks, and strong legs. Using the latest in camera and sound technology, the scientists examine them in great detail. In doing so, viewers will have a better understanding of how strong owls are in overcoming their prey and in protecting their young. Digital technology, for example, allows scientists and viewers to observe how owls hunt in the dark with vision that is two and a half times brighter than what a human can see, and also how their exceptionally sensitive hearing assists them in finding their prey.