Researchers are still figuring out how owls can do the things they do. For instance, in what seems like a supernatural act, owls can rotate their necks up to 270 degrees without damaging blood vessels or tearing tendons. This display of flexibility is necessary for owls because these birds have fixed eye sockets. Their eyeballs can’t rotate so they must turn their heads. But how is this possible?Researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have studied and collected data to help explain this phenomenal feat. First, an owl’s head is connected to its body by one socket pivot (as opposed to two in humans). The interesting thing the research team found is that owls have backup arteries. These arteries offer a fresh supply of blood when others get closed off by the turning of their head.
Our own Dr. Jenkins is a USDA certified wildlife rehabilitator, and we occasionally get to help these fabulous animals under the auspices of raptor specialist rehabilitator William Roberts – who is also USDA certified.
