Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – Owls often swallow their prey whole, according to the official website of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. But what happens with the fur, bones, and other indigestible materials in their stomach?
You can see the answer in a curious video of an owl documented by bird photographer, Heather King, in the Canadian province of Quebec, several years ago. (Watch the video above)
In the video, the owl, which is a member of the Boreal species, appears to start coughing, and soon a lump comes out of its mouth.
According to the New York City Parks and Recreation Department, owls regurgitate indigestible substances, called pellets, just as cats regurgitate hairballs.
The photographer, who is known as “Thee Owl Queen” on social media, said in an interview with CNN Arabic: “I thought I would have to help her get that lump out. I was afraid she would suffocate, and then (the owl) did the unthinkable by pulling “The ball with its claws.”
What increased the photographer’s enthusiasm about the scene was the small size of the owl, as she explained that it was considered the size of a pomegranate.
King had previously seen an owl regurgitate a mass of this size, but it was a snowy owl about four times larger than this Borel’s owl.
Since she posted the unique scene on her Instagram page at the end of December, the video has received more than 3 million views.
King confirmed: “Many people were surprised by what I documented,” noting that she “fell in love” with a snowy owl who provided her with positive feelings during a period when she suffered from a severe illness approximately 10 years ago.
