2012
Award Recipient: Prof. Dr. Herrmann Wagner

The Ornithologists’ Award was presented to Aachen-based zoologist Prof. Dr. Herrmann Wagner for his extensive research on the behavioral, physiological, and neural mechanisms underlying orientation and prey capture in barn owls.

Barn owls have developed specific adaptations to their nocturnal behavior. Feather tufts and asymmetrically positioned ears serve for sound perception, while forward-facing eyes aid in depth perception. In the brain, these specializations are reflected in enlarged areas dedicated to visual and auditory information processing. At the same time, barn owls are relatively easy to keep in captivity, allowing their complex behavior to be studied under controlled conditions.

In his work, Professor Wagner combines and integrates theoretical, behavioral biological, and neurobiological studies at the highest level and in an interdisciplinary manner. His methodological approaches range from theoretical physics to computer science, neurology, hearing and vision research, and psychology. In doing so, Professor Wagner never loses sight of the barn owl as a whole. His work is therefore an outstanding example of modern integrative organismic research, which is so indispensable for understanding the adaptive capabilities of animals.