Ingabe Lwaklanywa?

Uphaphe Lwesikhova

◼ Ibahlaba umxhwele onjiniyela bezindiza indlela isikhova esihamba ngayo ebusuku. Kungani? Ngenxa yokundiza kwaso buthule. Ingosi ye-National Geographic ithi: “Ayikho enye inyoni ekwazi ukundiza buthule njengale.” Iyini imfihlo yesikhova?

Cabangela lokhu: Umoya odlula phezu kwezimpaphe zezinyoni eziningi ubanga umsindo ongamkhulu ngempela. Kodwa lokhu kwehlukile esikhoveni. Amaphethelo ezimpaphe zaso ahlukanisa amaza omsindo obangelwa ukudlula komoya phezu kwamaphiko lapho ebhakuza. Izimpaphe ezintofontofo ezitholakala kwezinye izingxenye zomzimba wesikhova zisiza ekubambeni umsindo osele.

Abaklami bezindiza bangathanda ukuthola futhi basebenzise imfihlo yokundiza kwesikhova buthule. Ukuba khona kwezindiza ezingenawo umsindo kuyosho ukuthi izikhumulo zezindiza ezinemithetho elawula umsindo zingavuma ukuba izindiza zisuke futhi zihlale ebusuku kakhulu noma ekuseni kakhulu. Sezihleliwe kakade ezinye izindlela zokuthuthulisa lokhu. UGeoffrey Lilley, uprofesa wokuklanywa kwezindiza osethathe umhlalaphansi e-University yaseSouthampton eNgilandi, uthi: “Sekuseduze manje ukuba izinto zilunge.” Wanezela ukuthi kungase kuthathe amashumi eminyaka ngaphambi kokuba indiza enjalo iklanywe.

Ucabangani? Ingabe uphaphe lwesikhova olunendlela yokunciphisa umsindo lwazivelela ngengozi noma lwaklanywa?

[Isithombe ekhasini 23]

Qhathanisa uphaphe lwesikhova olungakwesokunxele nolukaklebe olungakwesokudla

[Imithombo Yesithombe ekhasini 23]

Long-eared owl: © Joe McDonald/Visuals Unlimited; barn owl sequence: © Andy Harmer/Photo Researchers, Inc.; feather comparison: Courtesy of Eike Wulfmeyer/Wikimedia/GFDL