1. Owls
Predators Of The Night

2. Vermont Owls We have seven different owls in Vermont.
Snow owl visits but does not live here.

3. We will now listen to the
Owl Sounds
We will now listen to the
different owl
sounds.
To hear sounds, click on
Practice here.

4. Great Horned Owl
“Who’s awake? Me, too”

5. “I-can-do-this-all-night-long”
Northern Saw-whet Owl
“I-can-do-this-all-night-long”

6. “Who cooks for you, who cooks for you all?”
Barred Owl
“Who cooks for you, who cooks for you all?”

7. Yipping like a small dog
Long-eared Owl
Yipping like a small dog
“wooip”

8. Short-eared Owl
“poo poo poo poo poo”

9. Descending horse whinny
Eastern Screech Owl
Descending horse whinny

10. Screaming or screech “csssssshhH”
Barn owl
Screaming or screech “csssssshhH”

11. What is the name of each owl?
Great Horned Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Eastern Screech Owl
Long eared Owl
Short eared Owl
Now play the mixed up owl sounds on tape and have students try to identify which owl sound belongs to which owl.
Great Horned Owl Long-eared owl
Short-eared Owl Northern Saw-whet Owl
Eastern Screech-Owl
Barn Owl
Barred Owl
Barred Owl
Barn Owl

12. What do you notice about their eyes? Click on screen for the answer.
The eyes of the owl are in the front of the head and the eyes of the blue bird are on the side of the head.

13. Click screen to see answer
Eye position
Remember the saying:
Eyes to the side---must run and hide
Prey
Eyes to the front---must hunt
Predator
Knowing this, is an owl a Predator or prey?
Click screen to see answer
Predator.
Predator

14. Food Most food is eaten whole
Fur, bone, and feathers are regurgitated as oblong pellets
Show students the owl pellets that are on the ELF cart.

15. Owl Adaptations
Head
Ears
Eyes
Talons
Wings
Beaks

17. Head Head can turn 270* in either direction
Flexible neck with 14 cervical vertebrae
Give each student the owl skeleton diagram which is in folder from the Elf cart. Let students count the vertebra.

18. Eyes Eyes are large Top eyelid can be lowered Binocular vision
Hold up owl skull (you can find it in the box on the cart) point out eye openings. Pass skull around for them to explore. Put eye diagram up for them to see and point out the different parts. Give each a hand out with the diagram of the skill.

19. Ears Dish shaped face funnels sound to ears
Ears are just below and behind eyes
Ears are lopsided for better hunting
Have students find the ears on the skull and share their discoveries.

20. Beaks Hooked beaks for tearing food
Upper and lower edges meet like shears
Have students look at the beak on the skull.

21. Talons Talons covered in feathers Grow at same rate as worn down
Talons get sharper as they grow
Show students the owl talons from the box. Pass them around so students can examine them. Remind them to not bend the toes.

22. Wings Like a comb to minimize noise Virtually silent
Velvety soft surface with fringes on the back
Pass around the owl wing with the hawk wing. Ask students to notice the differences. Wave each wing for students to hear the difference in sounds they make.

23. Hands on activities Owl Ears Game Owl And Mouse Game
Pellet Investigation
Explain activities before starting each one. The two games can be done outside. Follow the directions in the ELF book for each game. Divide each pellet between 3 students. After all the bones are dissected out of the pellets, the students will be able to glue them onto a piece of paper.

24. The End
We will now participate in the three fun activities I have for you, and then have a fun snack.

25. Bibliography