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Doane Stuart

Kindergarten and 4th Grade Scientists Dissect Owl Pellets

Scientists in Kindergarten and Grade 4 were given a interesting and somewhat curious assignment.  As part of the Lower School’s study of birds, the students were asked to find out what local owls might have eaten for dinner the night before.  Working together, the students were able to identify the types of prey that were consumed by owls by dissecting the contents of a pellet. 

The students learned that owls can only digest certain parts of the prey that they eat.  The bones, teeth, fur, feathers, scales, or insect skeletons cannot be digested or converted into energy.  after being eaten by the owl, the parts that were not able to be digested pass back up the esophagus to be cast out (thrown up) in the form of a pellet.  We are then able to dissect the pellet and study it’s contents to identify the types of prey that are consumed by owls.

Both the kindergarten and 4th grade students were able to practice recording and analyzing the data they collected which are skills that will be used again and again through the year. 

VIEW THE OWL PELLET DISSECTION PHOTO GALLERY