Outdoor Hour Challenge - Summer Series - #5 OwlsWe have been very fortunate to have several owl experiences very close to our home over the last year and a half. In Spring of 2009 we found an owl nest less than half a mile from our home. We often walked there to check up on the nestlings, occasionally catch sight of the parents, and after the nestlings had left, we ventured under the tree to collect owl pellets to dissect. Here is a link to a follow up study we did on owls earlier this year when we were hopeful we would be able to observe them again: Nature Study Follow-Up. Unfortunately, we did not find the new nest for the owls and haven't seen them this year.
In April of this year we visited the Thanksgiving Point Gardens and a guide pointed out the above Great Horned Owl nesting on the side of a waterfall. When I recently placed my order for science supplies from Home Science Tools I added a couple owl pellets so my order would qualify for free shipping :). The kids dissected them this week.
They weren't as enthusiastic about these as the first ones we did, in fact they were a little more squeemish about it this time around. But they did become more enthusiastic as they went along and discovered the many types of bones. I am always amazed at how many bones fit in these tiny pellets. 
We also took a few different occasions to discuss from memory characteristics of owls - how they nest, what they eat, that they are nocturnal, and so on. I am always amazed by how much my kids remember! We enjoyed reviewing these wonderful birds!
I am amzed at how many challenges we've been able to catch up on this month! I didn't want to miss any! I'm so grateful for Barb and her blog, Handbook of Nature Study! Thank you! Thank you!
You are very welcome and I am so glad that your children ended up enjoying and learning from the owl pellets this time too. We were surprised at the amount of bones in each little pellet....amazing actually. Owls are something I could study for a long time and never tire of because they are such beautiful and unique creatures.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your nature study and your link.
Wow! You and your family are inspiring me to dissect a pellet with the children... sometime :) Great study!
ReplyDeleteHow cool that you could observe some owls up close. My boys were squeamish about the whole pellet dissection thing, too, but did like seeing the many bones. Great study!
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