What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World's Most Enigmatic Bird
At the Museum | Fleischmann Auditorium
Presented by the Santa Barbara Audubon Society and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
This is a free public presentation. No reservation required.
For millennia, owls have captivated and intrigued humans. Our fascination with these mysterious birds was first documented more than 30,000 years ago in the Chauvet Cave paintings in southern France. With their forward gaze and quiet flight, owls are often a symbol of wisdom, knowledge, and foresight. But what does an owl really know? And what do we really know about owls?
Scientists have only recently begun to understand the complex nature of these extraordinary birds. Some 260 species of owls exist today. Though they reside on every continent except Antarctica, they are far more difficult to find and study than other birds, because they are cryptic, camouflaged, and mostly active in the dark of night.
In this free multimedia presentation, Jennifer Ackerman will explore the rich biology and natural history of owls and describe remarkable new scientific discoveries about their brains and behavior.
Jennifer Ackerman is an award-winning science writer and speaker, and author of the New York Times bestselling books, The Bird Way, The Genius of Birds, and her latest, What an Owl Knows. A bird lover since she was a child, Jennifer has been writing about nature and science for more than three decades. Her articles and essays have appeared in National Geographic, The New York Times, Scientific American and many other publications. Her presentations have drawn enthusiastic audiences at the National Book Festival, the Aspen Ideas Festival, the Vancouver International Bird Festival and many other venues around the world.
