The silent flight of the owls
I recall watching a documentary on the BBC regarding the silent flight of the owls. This documentary set the mood and the inspiration for this illustration.
I wanted to created a drawing that would show something more than a photograph or a video. Here you may see all the feathers present on the wing of a Long eared owl (Asio otus), along with its characteristics that enable the owl to fly and capture its prey without being noticed. First, you may notice the proportions of the wing in relation to the body mass, allowing the owl to glide effortlessly without having to flap its wings. Then, the velvety texture and the comb-like serrations on the leading edge of the feathers break up the turbulent air and act as silencers. All these features can be observed in this illustration.
This illustration was awarded a prize at the Casa das Ciências competition.
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Joana Bruno is a scientific illustrator developing images, infographics and materials for science communication.
Joana Bruno is a scientific illustrator developing images,
infographics and materials for science communication.
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