Owls regurgitate indigestible parts of their prey (usually bones, feathers, or fur) in the form of pellets approximately 20 hours after they eat. Instead of following an owl’s eating pattern closely, scientists can simply dissect its pellets to identify exactly what type of organism was digested. The students were fascinated by this activity and at the same time, shocked at what they were discovering. Before you knew it, groups were extracting tiny skulls and vertebra from the owl pellets! They then matched the bones they found to a chart in order to identify exactly what the owl had eaten. It seems as though a rodent is a favorite of owls being the most common creature found within the pellets.
Next, it was time to analyze insect behaviors. The students were split into groups and then given small containers consisting of several different types of bugs. They were asked to make observations as to how the insects behaved with their environment and each other. One group released the insect onto the carpet to examine its interaction with a rugged surface, while others noticed its tendency to hide behind objects. Experimenting with the insects’ attraction to ink was also quite captivating for the students. As they drew a line with pen on their paper, they watched as the insect followed their exact pattern. One student cleverly wrote his name in cursive to give the insect a run for its money. Surprisingly, it actually followed most of the pattern!
Stay tuned for the students’ transformation tomorrow from biologists to chemists!
~ Ivana
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