Now here is something seriously disgusting to do over the summer! The dissection of compacted owl vomit is sure to lure any child away from their Nintendo DS (or in The Big Girl's case, an addiction to repeated episodes of 'Friends'). It really is an activity which will fasinate anybody from toddlers to Great Grannies and can be performed inside or out.
It's a regular activity in our house and so popular that The Big Boy has requested an Owl Pellet Party for his birthday! We are lucky to have an owl box in an ancient oak tree a few fields away so that we can collect a ready supply whenever we want, however, they are easier to find in the summer months. Anyone who lives rurally, after a bit of investigation, will be able to find a source...woodland, farm buildings and barns are prime locations but if you can't find or live in more of a built up area then you can buy them for about 30p from the Barn Owl Trust or from Amazon (is there anything you CAN'T buy on Amazon?).
Owl pellets are basically the undigested parts of animals which the bird has consumed (fur and bones) so by dissecting them you can get a good idea of the diet of your local owl. This mainly consists of mouse, vole and shrew bones but, if you're lucky, you may find the bones of birds, rats or frogs. The pellets are dry and look a bit like sausages and can be easily stored if you find a ready supply (in your freezer..in bags..if you can face it!)
Apart from the pellet, you will also need the following:
A pair of old tweezers (cheap ones from Wilko are good)
A few cocktail/lolly sticks (for poking)
A piece of A4 (to put the bones on)
Newspaper (for covering your table)
A shallow tray with some water in (chinese takeway trays are good or an old ice cream tub)
It's also really interesting to print out a bone chart. There is an excellent info sheet and bone chart on the RSPB website here
1. It's simple. Fill the tray with about 2-3cm of water and put the pellet in it.
2. It will rapidly absorb the water and start to dispurse...a bit of poking from a small child is always helpful to aid dispursion!
3. Tweezer out some of the fur then get your child to pull out the bones and identify on the bone chart.
This will keep your child amused for a good hour and because of the gross factor is a useful activity to keep under your belt if you have a particularly protective parent coming round...the kids will love it!
4. After dissection make sure everyone washes their hands.
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