How To Swallow A Vole
These twelve images, out of about 150 frame sequence I captured, shows the basics of a great grey owl as it eats a dietary staple, a vole.
1. This great grey owl has a vole trapped in its talons down in the grass and is now looking around for anything threatening.
2. Proof that it has indeed captured the vole.
3. Giving the rodent a little squeeze to damage it sufficiently so that it dies or becomes otherwise inert.
4. Next is to reposition the vole so it can be swallowed headfirst.
5. The first part of swallowing smaller prey whole is to lean over, quickly open the beak, and thrust the head down over it.
6. Typically, this motion is done two to three times.
7. Once about halfway in, the owl will typically tip its head back a bit, and open wide.
8. Between gravity and swallowing actions, the prey is pulled fully into the throat.
9. Well, except for the tail and possibly a leg, as in this case.
10. Job done! But what to do with that dried grass?
11. Open wide, give the head a shake and swallow a few more times to try to ingest or dislodge the grass.
12. Finally, give a satisfied smirk to the photographer. That last bit of grass can be dealt with later.
And that, my Flickr Friends, is how it is done. You are now fully versed in the process, so feel free to try this at your convenience at home.
How To Swallow A Vole
These twelve images, out of about 150 frame sequence I captured, shows the basics of a great grey owl as it eats a dietary staple, a vole.
1. This great grey owl has a vole trapped in its talons down in the grass and is now looking around for anything threatening.
2. Proof that it has indeed captured the vole.
3. Giving the rodent a little squeeze to damage it sufficiently so that it dies or becomes otherwise inert.
4. Next is to reposition the vole so it can be swallowed headfirst.
5. The first part of swallowing smaller prey whole is to lean over, quickly open the beak, and thrust the head down over it.
6. Typically, this motion is done two to three times.
7. Once about halfway in, the owl will typically tip its head back a bit, and open wide.
8. Between gravity and swallowing actions, the prey is pulled fully into the throat.
9. Well, except for the tail and possibly a leg, as in this case.
10. Job done! But what to do with that dried grass?
11. Open wide, give the head a shake and swallow a few more times to try to ingest or dislodge the grass.
12. Finally, give a satisfied smirk to the photographer. That last bit of grass can be dealt with later.
And that, my Flickr Friends, is how it is done. You are now fully versed in the process, so feel free to try this at your convenience at home.