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