Hikers Come Across Unusual Sighting Of An Owl Swimming Through A Canyon

Jun 20, 2020 by apost team

Owls, the nocturnal hunters of the sky, typically do not go swimming in broad daylight. That's why one social hike became a memorable experience that garnered the attention of National Geographic. Derrick Zuk and friends hiked along the Colorado River in a nearby canyon by Lake Powell, when they came upon this strange event.

Of course, no one would think it natural for an owl to be swimming, but is it really that rare or dangerous? Well, as it turns out, yes and potentially.

Once the story picked up, National Geographic, the global nonprofit focusing on protecting the planet and its animal habits stepped in. With some careful consideration, their team of animal scientists suggested the bird may be a great-horned owl.

One reason National Geographic gave that these predatory birds do not swim is their feathers, which are mainly designed for flight. Though they do have water-resistant properties for the rain, they are not meant to be fully submerged. Moreover, the bird in question had feathers so wet that it would not be able to take flight for some time. The water weighs down the feathers, making flight impossible until they have been fully dried.

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In addition to flight, these nocturnal birds are not well adapted for a fight in the water. Their natural predatory nature is rendered nearly ineffective in water. More to the point, they are generally defenseless from other predators. This is especially important, as they cannot fly away.

So if predatory birds, including the great-horned owl, are so ill-suited for aquatic life, then how did this one in particular end up swimming in the water? Well, National Geographic was able to use clues to piece together a potential story to answer just that.

The owl in question still had a few of its nestling feathers. These are the hatchling features that baby birds have as they emerge from the egg, suggesting that the swimming owl was young. According to National Geographic, this particular species of owl likes to settle on cliff edges. Often, great-horned owl nests can be found on these high cliffsides. Thus, their theory is that the young owl fell from the nest. Landing in the water, rather than on land, it was able to swim to regain its composure.

To answer the question about the young owl's overall attempt at recovery, the hikers–Derrick and friends–returned to the original location of the owl. No longer there, National Geographic believes the owl regained its faculties and flew back to its nest. 

Were you surprised to see an owl fly through a canyon? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this article along to others!