Students had a hoot at Marion Natural History Museum
Dec 19, 2022
Students in the Marion Natural History Museum’s after school program learned about owls and how they catch their prey. Photos courtesy: Marion Natural History Museum.
Students used magnifiers and microscopes to examine owl pellets.
Students found the remains of an owl’s prey inside the pellets.
On Wednesday, Dec. 7 the Marion Natural History Museum’s afterschool group learned how an owl catches and consumes its prey, and what happens to its prey’s undigestible remains.
By dissecting owl pellets left from a Barn Owl, students had an opportunity to find the bones of the owl’s prey. Remains included skulls, teeth, ribs and two bird beaks. Students used the museum’s microscopes and magnifiers to identify the animal skulls by how their teeth are placed in the jaws.
Students also explored the museum’s collection of owls and learned about their history and how they came to be in the museum. To view the Marion Natural History Museum’s upcoming programs, visit www.marionmuseum.com.
