Stealthy in the Snow T e Arctic is covered in thick layers of snow and ice. T e only thing moving is the wind. Lemmings and rabbits are hidden under the snowy grass. T ey’re hidden, but not safe. A snowy owl huddles against the wind,


protected by its thick, warm feathers. T ese owls are diurnal. T at means they’re active during the day. T e snowy owl is hungry. It’s searching for food. Snowy owls have excellent eyesight, but


they don’t have x-ray vision. T ey can’t see through the snow. T at’s not a problem, though. T e snowy owl has adapted another keen sense to capture its meals: hearing.


Most owl ears are small slits in the bird’s


skull. One ear is higher than the other. T is adaptation helps owls find prey. When the owl hears a noise, one ear


hears it first. T e time diff erence between sound reception is a 30 millionths of a second. Yet that diff erence allows the owl’s brain to figure out its distance from prey. T e owl turns its head until the sound


goes into both ears at the same time. T en the owl knows its prey is in front of it. Snowy owl ears are so sharp, they can


pick up on a mouse’s heartbeat under the snow. Its hearing helps the owl survive in its frozen environment.


To survive in their cold habitat, snowy owls have thick feathers. They even have feathers on their feet!


OCTOBER 2015 5


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