OWL PELLET PRELAB OWL PELLETS Owl pellets are

OWL PELLET PRE-LAB

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 into the proventriculus, which secretes juices onto the food. • This mass then moves to the gizzard, which separates what the owl can digest from what he can not.

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, he is okay. • You. Tube Video: Baby owl ejects pellet

OWL PELLET • Looking into the pellet can give some idea of what the owl has eaten. • Pellets also indicate where an owl’s nest has been located.

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. • They usually roost during the day in tree hollows.

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 • Owls differ from other birds of prey in how they eat.

OWL PELLET • For instance, eagles soar in the sky looking for prey.

OWL PELLET • Once spotted, it will attack with its talons and peck with the beak until the prey is dead. • The eagle then rips out the insides, eats, and leaves.

OWL PELLET • An owl will swallow its prey whole.

OWL PELLET • Owls have many adaptations that make them incredible hunters.

OWL PELLET • They have large, forward-facing eyes that widen inside the skull, allowing the retinas to almost touch.

OWL PELLET • Their retinas are 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/v 4/index. htm • Owl Pellets Song: http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=FENow. Cc. A 8 M&feature=related • Owl Pellet Dissection Video: http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=y. Pm 689 pxj. V 4 • 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-vomitcollector. html