VIDEO: Owl Doing Breaststroke
If a large raptor swoops down to catch itself a water based morsel, it faces the prospect of a soaking. Birds that aren’t used to getting their wings wet won’t particularly like this, but it’s a hazard that goes hand in hand with a penchant for fish. You have to deal with it.
Ducks, seabirds and the like, as we all know, have those wonderfully oily feathers that repel the water and keep them dry. Owls and most other birds do not.
The video below shows a great horned owl that got chased into Lake Michigan by a bunch of falcons (bullies). He’s obviously decided that an attempt to flap free from the water would be a lot more effort with water laden feathers than a brief swim to the other side. So he’s opted for breaststroke.
It’s a pretty weird sight but the owl isn’t bothered at all, he looks pretty leisurely.
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