We had the amazing opportunity to study Owls close up and personal on the High Desert in Central Oregon. Many visits to the Donald M. Kerr Birds of Prey Center at the High Desert Museum filled our learning with detailed knowledge, close hand observation, and one on one attention from staff.
We also had opportunity to observe a baby chick owl in July of 2009. Screech – the owl pictured above – was kicked out of the nest and left to fend from himself. Days of crying – gave the name of Screech. What was first insanely interesting got to be a it overbearing with noise, and a bit intimidating to the family livestock and pets. 🙂 The family would walk around the yard with their little terrier pup named Tilly armed with a pump up squirt gun to go out to feed the chickens and work the horses. 🙂 We spent many a days watching how close this silly displaced owl would come to the family.
In June of this year – I received an Owl Pellet as a birthday gift from the Minar Family. I can’t even tell you how excited I was. Not. Even Kiddin’. I knew that the Owl Study was coming up and was screaming and hooting.
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Kathy gave me the pellet in a plastic bag, which we put on the “discovery shelf”. 10 days later – we saw that the bag had turned into a green house with the sun that shines in the afternoon. The grass from the pellet started to sprout, moisture was drawn out – condensation – Very COOL! |
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Today we spent 15 minutes outside listening to the birds. I have found that early morning/late evening is the best time to listen to the neighborhood tweet-ering gossip – and listen to the air traffic controllers up high in Sitka Spruce – but we took a chance at seeing the wood pecker in the afternoon.
We heard:
- Crows
- Peep Peep Twer Twer
- Wind in the leaves, strong – thick
- Flag Whips, Snaps, Ruffles
- Mallard Honks
- Kaw kaw kaw
- Movement of Cars, Wind, Flag Plastic Bags, Branches
- Crackling of Tree Leaves
- Quacking Ducks
- Paper
- Dog Splashing
- Pencils scratching
- Jonny Lego Giggling
- Windsock Spinning
- Distant Dog Barking
- Jet Ski Skimming
- My own fluffy snoring. What? Oh Sorry. It was so warm and cozy!
Felt – Hot sun rays and the soft wind.
Smell – Wet Earthy Vegetation. Hot Deck Wood. Lake Water.
We came inside to play with my birthday present –
The Pellet was just over 2 inches long.
Kat said that it had deteriorated in the rain in their yard.
Hmmmm. Possibly a sign that the camera needs to take a break for a few days? Grandpa was here for a while, and we have taken quite a few field trips. . . .. 
Any surprise that the big finder prize among the boys was the teeth?
Our family list of Hear, Smell, Feel
As usual, the Owl drawings include a flying dog.
Jon’s Owl and Mouse. (Run Mouse Run!)
I forgot to scientifically mention that we have been talking to anyone who knows anything about owls lately. That we went to the websites on the OHC to identify the bones that were excavated, and the boys and I read owl books from the library for about 45 minutes this afternoon. 🙂 Just sharin’ the pics with ya. 🙂 You have fun finding out the nitty gritty fun filled facts – click on over to the OHC to get started!
+Angie Wright
Pebblekeeper 
We just finished our owl study and had a great time with it…although my boys weren’t as excited about the whole owl pellet thing as yours lol. Go figure. 🙂
I was surprised that they got into the pellet thing. Usually, it would be soak, rip apart, run off. I think they were amazed that so many parts could be in there. And I think it was a middle school weirdness of wanting to reconstruct a dead mouse. 🙂 I’ll hop over and look at your study!
We hear a Barred Owl in our backyard pretty much every night when the weather is cool enough (and not too cool) to leave the windows open. My husband has only seen it one time over the past 9 years though! We did the owl pellets a long time ago with a group. I was amazed by all of the bones.
Samantha
Oh…you should join my nature swap!!!! hint! That’d be so cool!!!!
Honey
Did I not join? Count me in . . .
What an incredible number of bones from your pellet! I love that it was growing in your ziploc too…fascinating.
The teeth are pretty cool actually….we are anxious to do our pellets but we just have not had the time to get to it. I hope we have some teeth.
Thanks for sharing so much of your nature study and your kids.
Barb
We awoke to a strange sound last night at 1am. At first I thought it was a coyote pup in our back yard. So Steve looked out our bedroom window and I went to turn on the yard light.
I was our friendly pair of horned owls mating. They did not appreciate our interpution.
as far as to possibilities of the bones. We have chipmunks, squirels, small rabbits, and can you believe mice.
I’ve thought of a few replies- but nothing that seems fitting of my family friendly blog . . .Um. Ya.
Jon thinks that they must have the bones in the stomach for a while – and then eventually hurk them up, as the “pellet” size is needed – as the bones really didn’t match up as one or even two whole animals. We wondered if maybe they tear at the animals, and drop parts on the ground. Have you seen them ripping up food and being messy eaters?
Sounds like an incredible plan to me!:)
What a neat project! We learned about owls briefly when the kids were younger at an amazing bird sanctuary near our then home. We spent quite a bit of time there and miss it now. On one ocassion we also dissected an owl pellet. I love all your detail! We still haven’t gotten into the Outdoor Hour Challenge as I’ve hoped to- maybe we can finally get in gear this fall. Blessings!:)
You just keep encouraging me to forage out our local history on the inside of buildings and I’ll encourage you to stop for a second more on the outside. Sounds like a good encouraging team to me. 🙂
Wow, what a wonderful post. (How is that for alliteration?) I love your enthusiasm. You got so many bones from your owl pellet. I am ordering one tomorrow!