4th grade Science Ms. Maldonado OWLS 4th grade Science Ms. Maldonado

Facts about Owls Mar 7, 2016- Around 225 species of owl are found in the world. Nepal is home to a total of 21 species of owl and four species among them are categorized as endangered. The population of owls is increasingly in decline due to illegal hunting and trade. Some species of owl are traded for as much as 300,000 and beyond.

Facts about Owls Owls perform a valuable service by helping to keep rodent populations in check. In some areas, such as the sugar cane plantations of Florida, land owners have recognized the value of owls in controlling rodent populations, and have placed nest boxes for Barn Owls to encourage these birds to stay, nest and help control rodent populations. Most owls are nocturnal, but some species, such as the Short-eared Owl, Barred Owl, Snowy Owl, Hawk Owl and Pygmy Owl, will hunt during the day.

Facts about Owls The cryptic color and pattern of an owl allows it to blend in well with its environment. Owls can sit all day in just the right place to blend in and not be seen.

North Napels Florida Similarly, activities such as: 1) overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides 2) hunting for entertainment by locals 3) increased deforestation 4)Overgrazing 5) Electrocution 6)forest fires are also the reason for the population to decline

Northern California Owl Of the 180 or so species of owls that occur worldwide, eighteen species occur in North America. These are divided into two groups, the Barn Owl (1 species) and the typical owls (17 species).

North America Elf Owl Owls range in size from the tiny North America Elf Owl, which at 6 inches long is the smallest owl in the world, to the large and powerful Great Horned, Snowy and Great Gray Owls.

The Long-eared Owl The long ears are not really ears, but tufts of feathers that help the bird to blend in with its surroundings. In winter months, these owls form communal winter roosts, usually in a cedar tree. These wintering birds are sensitive to human disturbance, so if there is a winter roost near you, it is important that they not be disturbed.

Snowy Owl The Snowy Owl is circumpolar in Arctic regions. Young Snowy Owls have heavy black mottling in the plumage. Owls have large, rounded heads with large eyes that face forward, giving them good binocular vision. The eyes of large owls, about the size of a human eye, are fixed in their sockets, so owls must turn their head to look sideways or behind.

The adult Snowy Owl The adult Snowy Owl is truly the ghost of the Arctic. Snowy owls are known for periodic irruptions when they leave their northern grounds and move farther south than usual. This southward migration usually coincides with shortages of their favorite foods of mice and lemmings. These large, powerful owls also prey on ducks, geese, crows, ptarmigans, small gulls, various seabirds, fish, and other vertebrates. Scientists examined the stomach of one owl and found that it contained 17 mice!

Burrowing Owl Burrowing Owl occurs from North America to the southern tip of South America. It will nest and roost in the abandoned burrow of a prairie dog, fox, badger, or even the burrow of a gopher tortoise. The distress call of the young owl mimics the rattling sound of a rattlesnake, and helps to scare off predators.

The Short-eared Owl The Short-eared Owl is a cosmopolitan species that occurs across all of North America, most of Central and South America, Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. The Short-eared Owl in flight shows a pale wrist patch on the upper wing and a dark wrist patch on the under wing. The business end of an owl is its strong feet and sharp talons. These are used to grasp, hold and kill its prey. The feathers extend down the legs to the toes, helping to keep the legs and feet warm.

Facts about owl pellets Pellets are the undigested parts of a bird’s food, such as hair or bones, which are regurgitated (coughed up through the beak). Many kinds of birds produce pellets including birds of prey, crows and even sparrows. The appearance depends on what they eat.  Owl pellets are not droppings – and they do not smell! Barn Owl pellets are black when fresh and gradually turn grey as they dry out. The diet of most wild Barn Owls consists mainly of small mammals such as voles, shrews and mice. Other less common items include rats, birds and frogs. Barn Owl pellets are made up of fur and bones of small mammals which the owl usually swallows whole.