Perceiving owls

Owls are magnificent birds, widely regarded as symbols of wisdom. They have exceptional eyesight and excellent hearing. Their specialised wing feathers reduce the sound of their wing beats, allowing them to approach prey silently. This gives them an extremely high hunting success rate. The parts of their prey that cannot be digested are compressed into a compact pellet, which the owl later regurgitates.

In some areas, owl populations are declining because of rodent poisons, a practice that is now strongly discouraged, as the toxins move up the food chain. Owls are also surrounded by African myths, where they are often associated with witchcraft. Because of these beliefs, they are disliked by some people, especially in rural areas. If an owl sits and calls from the apex of a hut, it is considered a bad omen. At the same time, people fear harming them, believing that misfortune will follow. These beliefs usually revolve around large nocturnal owl species.