Solar Max
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April 7th
(Day Before Total Eclipse)
On April 7th, we arrived at the zoo to observe our animals before the eclipse. The animal that I would be observing on this day would be the Barred Owl, (The Barred Owl was a newer animal to the zoo so I had gone through the back to see this owl). We had went a day before the eclipse to find out its normal behavior. Generally the Barred Owl was resting, mainly throughout the day.
Hypothesis
Based on the data given by zoo keepers and observations, my prediction was that the Barred Owl would be more active during totality (Eclipse).
Behavior
The Barred Owl are quiet, observant and what I like to say “keep it to them selves”. They are primary nocturnal like every other owl but sometimes hunts during the day.
Day of the Eclipse
(April 8th)
On the day of the eclipse we had entered the zoo, and had setup our stations to observe our animals, in my case the Barred Owl. The Barred Owls name was Liam who was 4 years old, who which was born in a breeder. 1 hour before totality we observed the animals and took down notes on its behaviors. If not the entire time the Barred Owl was sleeping, waking up and looking around at times, or even hopping.
During Totality
About 2 minutes before totality it had started to turn dark. That was when the Barred Owl had woken up, and to which it had flew around the enclosure. It was also looking around its surrounding/enclosure. To my guess I would assume that it thinks that it was turning night or was night time, which probably had made it confused. Leading to it’s night time behaviors.
After Totality
When the sun was appearing again and when the light we appearing, the Barred Owl had actually gone back to sleep/resting. It was as if nothing had happened and it had just woken up and just went straight back to sleep.
Conclusion
My hypothesis is that the owl had woken up as if it was night time doing it’s night time routine. Although I think the excessive flying it did and attacking of the enclosure was because it was confused as night time was only for 2 minutes and the time period was quick. I learned that during the eclipse the Barred Owl would go in some type of distress flying around and doing it night time activities when it was dark and when bright go back to sleep.
Path of Eclipse
The path of the eclipse went through Dallas Texas. We decided to observe the animals here at that red dot, Fort Worth Zoo. The eclipse went through the zoo at 99% totality. The time of totality at the zoo was ~1:42pm.