Slow Motion Raptor Strikes - Smarter Every Day 38

Destin visits Auburn University at the Southeastern Raptor Centre with Andrew, who works with birds daily.

A red-tailed hawk named Petey will strike a target while being filmed in high-speed video.

To demonstrate how birds can control their entire wing individually, with each feather moving separately, unlike airplanes that control only specific wing surfaces.

Andrew is certain Petey will hit the target every time.

A Phantom V10 high-speed camera is set up with a wide-angle lens featuring a special bulbous lens design to capture the exact point of impact.

Raptors wear leather hoods over their eyes because they are so visually stimulated they become irritated without them.

• Humans are trichromats with cones detecting red, green, and blue light • Birds are tetrachromats or pentachromats with over two-thirds more color information to process • Birds may see UV components of light that humans cannot perceive

• Humans detect flickering light up to about 18 hertz; beyond that it appears smooth • Birds have a much higher flicker fusion rate of about 100 hertz with UV light component • This higher rate allows birds flying through woods to see branches and make adjustments mid-flight

As the bird attempts to grab the target, high-speed footage reveals how the bird perceives and reacts to the environment.

When the bird misses the target, her high flicker fusion rate enables her to make aerodynamic corrections on the fly to attempt to grab it.

High-speed footage simulates a flicker fusion rate much higher than humans experience, allowing viewers to see the world through the bird's eyes.

This demonstrates the remarkable sensory and motor control capabilities that birds possess for flight and hunting.

Destin thanks Andrew for coordinating the visit and expresses gratitude to the Southeastern Raptor Centre.

Raptors must push ten to twelve pounds of air when they flap their wings, which provides cooling effect.

The hallux (largest and longest toe) is the primary talon that does the piercing when the bird strikes.

All of the raptor's feet work together as their killing tool, with the hallux being the most significant component.