JavaScript Enlightenment

Colophon

The animal on the cover of JavaScript Enlightenment is a Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo), one of the largest species of owl in the world. Its habitat ranges from the dense forests of western Europe to the mountains of Asia, and from frigid Scandinavian fjords to the deserts of Saharan Africa and the Middle East.

The eagle owl is an imposing bird of prey with a large facial disc (the feathers surrounding the eyes) and bright orange eyes. It stands over 2 feet tall, with a wingspan up to 6 feet across. Along with its size, the dark vertical stripes on its feathers, a mottled white pattern on the breast, and prominent ear tufts make the eagle owl easy to identify.

This owl hunts by watching for prey from a high perch. When it spots a rabbit or other small mammal, it swoops in swiftly and low to the ground to capture prey with its large talons. Eagle owls can also pluck birds out of the air or plunge into water to grab a fish.

The eagle owl prefers to build nests on rocky ledges, crevices on the face of a cliff, or in the shelter of a cave entrance. A typical brood contains one to four owlets who are born in mid-to-late winter and grow quickly—by early spring, they are too large to remain in the nest. The female will continue to feed and protect her offspring even after they leave the nest, until they are able to hunt on their own in the fall.

The eagle owl can be seen soaring on thermal updrafts or flying with shallow wing beats and long glides, a pattern of flight more similar ...