Owl Evolution and Adaptation
Owls are amazing birds and research shows them to be highly adaptable to different environments and changes. As a result of this there is no doubt that they have been around for millions of years. The concept of owl evolution is one that continues to fascinate people in the research department. They want to find out what these animals used to look like. They want to find out what changes took place to them physically over the course of time to help them adapt to their environment.
When you are talking about the evolution of owls, you do need to understand that many aspects of it continue to be highly debated. It is amazing how some experts can look at the same evidence including DNA but come to completely different conclusions. Plenty of what is out there about owl evolution is only theories and speculation though. The lack of solid evidence to substantiate it makes it hard to swallow what is being offered.
It is believed that owls derived from various species of birds. In order to survive their bodies evolved to give them better eyesight and a body that was able to live in one environment all year long rather than having to migrate like other species of birds. As a result they where able to continue to become more different from their ancestors as time passed by.
Some experts believe that owls were once like the ostrich, with very long legs and living on land. However, they developed a need to fly and so they got shorter. However, their sharp talons didn’t go away, and they were actually enhanced as a way for them to be able to capture their prey.
The fact that owls are able to live in the desert as well as in the forest regions means that they did evolve in order to be able to adjust to a variety of environments. Even though there are many fossils that have been linked back to owls, they don’t tell us everything that happened. They also fail to tell us how far back those changes with evolution really are. The mystery is one that we will only uncover as we develop new ways of testing those fossils.
The fact that owls definitely seem to be far more advanced though than other types of birds is important to note. There are plenty of experts that give credit to the evolution process for this. It is no accident that they are well known in society for their wisdom. They have rituals that are very sophisticated in the animal world. Yet they are also able to identify and to problem solve in their surroundings.
Their overall question though is to find food, to find shelter, and to protect their young. They have the same natural instincts in these areas as other animals. Yet it is how they go about processing all of it that sets them apart. This is also why they have been able to move forward in the evolution process rather than becoming part of the past.
Even though owls have been able to evolve, it doesn’t mean that they will always be able to do so. The changes to their environment as well as the destruction of it continues to occur at a very alarming rate. It isn’t practical for these owls to be expected to evolve at that pace. Those types of changes take a very long time to occur. Therefore we need to not rely upon the evolution process to protect them but our own efforts. In the mean time we can continue to look for those connections to the past.
