![\"barn](\"http:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/barn-owl-0814-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n\u00a01\/1600. f\/8, ISO 500 500 f\/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, canvas added for composition,\u00a0not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Another thing\u00a0I like about the image is the clear look at the alulae (plural of alula) or “bastard wings – the first digit or “thumb” on the leading edge of the wing.<\/p>\n And this shot shows one more thing that intrigues me – the\u00a0right alula (left in our view)\u00a0is extended further forward and at a sharper angle\u00a0than the one on the birds left, perhaps in compensation for the tipped angle of flight.\u00a0 My research indicates that there’s still debate among experts about whether or not\u00a0birds have muscular control of the alulae or they only respond to the pressure of\u00a0air currents.\u00a0\u00a0 This owl has just spotted potential prey below and is flying very slowly as it looks down, so slowly in fact\u00a0that its flight has almost stalled out –\u00a0which is exactly when the alulae\u00a0extend like this\u00a0and come into play to\u00a0help keep the bird in the air.<\/p>\n Since I did a fairly recent post on the function of the alulae I won’t go into any more detail about them here.\u00a0 But the subject is fascinating if you have any interest at all in the unique adaptations of birds for flight.\u00a0 Here’s a link<\/strong><\/a> to that post if you’re interested.\u00a0 It uses images of a male American Kestrel in flight for illustration.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Barn Owls have rather intricate plumage patterns and interesting color gradations on their dorsal (back)\u00a0surfaces but they are rarely seen in their entirety in a single image. That’s partly because\u00a0to get such an image you need to get them in flight with their wings out and tail spread\u00a0which is very difficult to do since they’re primarily nocturnal.\u00a0 And when you do\u00a0manage a flight shot of one you’re usually looking up at them and can’t see much, if any, of the dorsal surface.\u00a0 I thought this\u00a0image fit the bill. especially with the bird looking down so that we can also\u00a0see the colors and patterns on the top of the head.\u00a0 Yes, I do wish I had more light in the eye… \u00a01\/1600. f\/8, ISO 500 500 f\/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, canvas added for composition,\u00a0not baited, set up or called in Another thing\u00a0I like about the image is the clear look at the alulae (plural of alula) or “bastard wings – the first digit or “thumb” on the leading edge of the wing. And this shot shows one more thing that intrigues me – the\u00a0right alula (left in our view)\u00a0is extended further forward and at a sharper angle\u00a0than the one on the birds left, perhaps in compensation for the tipped angle of flight.\u00a0 My research indicates that there’s still debate among experts about whether or not\u00a0birds have muscular control of the alulae or they only respond to the pressure of\u00a0air currents.\u00a0\u00a0 This owl has just spotted potential prey below and is flying very slowly as…<\/p>\n