Screech Owl and its favorite haunt. |
Screech often watches from his haunt in the late afternoons. Screech is a grey phase Eastern Screech Owl.
Grey phase Eastern Screech Owl |
Screech Owls are not much bigger than a handful.
Red phase Eastern Screech Owl |
Oowwwl, fortunately I was wearing gloves.
Owl's talons effectively do their job by the looks of the owl pellets at the base of our owl tree.
Screech Owl pellet |
Owl pellet dissection is an interesting science project.
What is an owl pellet, you might ask? Well, it is a regurgitated clump of bones and hair that conveniently gives an indication of what the owl has been eating.
Dissecting an owl pellet |
Owl pellet dissection |
Here is a picture of the contents of an owl pellet... minus the hair.
Screech Owl pellet contents |
Another owl pellet's contents was a bit more representative of a complete skeleton. There was also a spattering of small bones and fragments (which aren't pictured) within this owl pellet. There are plenty of missing bones and at least one extra one...a third humerus.
Screech Owl pellet's content |
Pair of shrew jaws from owl pellet |
Jaw of a red-toothed shrew |
Obviously Owl has been eating red-toothed shrews. These types of shrews have iron deposits in their tooth enamel. See this paper for more info...Nature of Pigment in Teeth of Pygmy Shrew, Sorex minutus
Blood-red teeth of a shrew |
As you can see, owl pellet dissection makes a great addition to a homeschool lesson plan. My son would rather not study anything, so thanks, Screech, for the interesting lessons in shrew skeletal anatomy.
Oh, and thanks, Owl, for being so shrewd.
If you don't mind, owl be back for more photos and pellets.
If you don't mind, owl be back for more photos and pellets.
"owl be back ..." Oh Dana ! :-)
ReplyDeleteSybil,
ReplyDeleteYep, that's "I'll" with a southern accent. :)