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OWL PELLET INVESTIGATION

OWL PELLET INVESTIGATION. Learning Goals. Dissect one complete pellet of a barn owl Identify the animal(s) whose bones are found in the pellets Identify individual bones of animal(s) and show where they belong in the skeleton Explore a real-life example of food webs and chains. OWL PELLETS.

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OWL PELLET INVESTIGATION

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  1. OWL PELLET INVESTIGATION

  2. Learning Goals • Dissect one complete pellet of a barn owl • Identify the animal(s) whose bones are found in the pellets • Identify individual bones of animal(s) and show where they belong in the skeleton • Explore a real-life example of food webs and chains

  3. OWL PELLETS • Owl pellets are masses of bone, teeth, hair, feathers, and exoskeletons of various animals preyed upon by raptors.

  4. OWL PELLETS • These pellets are the undigestable parts of an owl’s meal that the bird will then regurgitate.

  5. OWL PELLET • The owl will first capture the prey before ripping them apart with his sharp beak and swallowing large chunks.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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

  9. OWL PELLET • Looking into the pellet can give some idea of what the owl has eaten.

  10. OWL PELLET • Owls are a type of raptor. • These are also called birds of prey. • Some other raptors are falcons, vultures, hawks, and eagles.

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. 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.

  14. 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

  15. 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

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