Find Chester!
Closer photos-
Pellet
Assorted bones
Weekly ramblings about the flora and fauna in our tiny swamp.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
New photographs of Chester (first 3), and owl pellets (warning, rodent bones, not for the squeamish)
I frequently find owl pellets at Chester's favorite roosting places. Owls eat their prey whole, and cough up the indigestible bits, this is a fairly coherent chunk (about 3 inches long, 1.5 across) called a pellet, and it is interesting to dissect them to see what he has been eating. This one had weathered for a few days, they are normally more cohesive. The things found in owl pellets are bones, fur, teeth, nails, hair and feathers- so they contain a lot of information on owl diets.
The first 3 are recent images of Chester way up in the tree canopy- he is about 40 feet up. He was watching overhead for the other birds who hate owls and will mob them and even (brave little souls) peck his head.
The next 3 are of a mostly whole pellet, and then 2 details based on my dissection. The 2 pellets I found contained basically the whole skeleton and fur from 2 rodents- either mice, or our local Florida Wood rats. I'll be taking these in to a biologist for help identifying the bones.
Find Chester!
Closer photos-
Pellet
Assorted bones
skulls
Find Chester!
Closer photos-
Pellet
Assorted bones
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My best friend at university was studying owls, and used to collect pellets. He spent many an hour carefully dissecting them and then putting the little skeletons together again so he could keep track of what they ate. You brought back some very good memories. Thanks. :)
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear it Karen. I just hope they really like the roof rats and leave my Florida Wood rats alone! Plus, we have tons of squirrels who are not in the least endangered. Eat more squirrels Chester!
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