OWL PELLET INVESTIGATION
Learning Goals
1. Dissect one complete pellet of a barn owl
2. Identify the animal(s) whose bones are found in the pellets
3. Identify individual bones of animal(s) and show where they belong in the skeleton
4. Explore a real-life example of food webs and chains
OWL PELLETS
• Owl pellets are masses of bone, teeth, hair, feathers, and exoskeletons of various animals preyed upon by raptors.
OWL PELLETS
• These pellets are the undigestable parts of an owl’s meal that the bird will then regurgitate.
OWL PELLET
• The owl will first capture the prey before ripping them apart with his sharp beak and swallowing large chunks.
OWL PELLET
• These chunks make their way down the esophagus which secretes juices onto the food.
• The food then moves to the gizzard, which separates what the owl can digest from what it can’t.
OWL PELLET
• The digestable portion continues on through the digestive tract.
• The undigestable part forms into a round pellet. • This pellet moves back into the proventriculus where it
will stay for many hours.
OWL PELLET
• Before the owl can eat again, he must regurgitate the pellet.
• The owl appears to be in great pain and seems like he can not breathe during this process, but once the pellet is out, it is okay.
• YouTube Video: Baby owl ejects pellet
OWL PELLET
• Looking into the pellet can give some idea of what the owl has eaten.
OWL PELLET
• Owls are a type of raptor. • These are also called birds of prey.• Some other raptors are falcons, vultures,
hawks, and eagles.
OWL PELLET
• Barn owls are very common and pellets are numerous.
• A barn owl can usually be found in many habitats, but commonly in open woods.
OWL PELLET
• Barn owls usually eat small ground mammals such as voles, shrews, and mice.
• These animals usually eat things like insects, nuts and berries, and sometimes worms.
OWL PELLET
• Owl’s eyes so advanced that owls can catch prey in total darkness.
• Owls also have very sensitive ear openings. • They can also rotate their heads about 270 degrees,
giving them a wide range of vision.
Helpful Links
• Virtual Owl Pellet Dissection: http://www.kidwings.com/owlpellets/flash/v4/index.htm
• Owl Pellets Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FENowCc-A8M&feature=related
• Owl Pellet Dissection Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPm689pxjV4
• Owl Pellet Lab Directions Online: http://crescentok.com/staff/jaskew/isr/biology/bpellet.htm
• Dirty Jobs: Owl Vomit Collector: http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/dirty-jobs-owl-vomit-collector.html
Lab Partners
• AJ and Mia• Donn Daivid and Olegue• Sheldon and Nicholas • Trinity and Czarina• Cole and Alex• Kathleen and Natalia• Thomas and Joseph• Sam and Shane• Tyrone and Anthony• Khurey and Kristeena• Lindsay and Kiara• Aryanna and Kyla