What I've learned about Owls

The screech owl at the zoo is named Pig. She's either

named for the owl in Harry Potter or because she

ate all of the other owls food

in her previous home.

She was a special visitor at our zoo class

this month.

Owl's wings are silent.

This allows them to

sneak up on their prey.

Their claws are strong enough to crush the

skull of mice.

Owls have no known predators. They eat rodents, and

when they are finished eating,

they throw up what is called

a pellet.

This pellet is filled

with everything that the owl's body can't digest.

It contains fur, bones, etc.

Scientists can study an owl pellet

to discover what

the owl has eaten

and to learn what kind of rodents are

around.

Our pellet contained lots

of little bones along

with some fur.

Brianne's (the teacher)

pellet contained a rat's skull

along with other bones.

The tufts on the top of

an owls head are not

ears. Owls use the feathers

to help them hear better.

An owl's ears are not
even. One is on the top part of the
head, the other is on the lower part
of the head.
This adaption allows the owl to
hear better. Much like a dog
who might tip it's head
to hear you better.
Owls made by kids are WAY
more colorful than owls we find in nature.
Boy do we learn a lot at our
zoo class.
If you'd like to dissect your own owl pellet,
try this web site:
www.kidwings.com/owlpellets/flash/v4/index.htm