World of Owls (1.5 hours)

Students will begin seated inside the Center's lecture room where mounted owls of species found in  Connecticut will be displayed.  The instructor will first introduce students to the unique characteristics of all owls that make them specially adapted for nocturnal life including feathers, eyes, ears, beak and talons.  Students will feel owl feathers and see an owl skull to observe these features first hand. 

Next, through use of mounted specimens, the instructor will show  the owl species found in Connecticut and the unique features and lifestyles of each.  The instructor will start with the most commonly seen year round residents and then the species seen during special times of the year.  Species include; Screech Owl, Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, Saw Whet Owl, Short Eared Owl, Long Eared Owl, Barn Owl and Snowy Owl.  Students will also see a live Eastern Screech Owl.

A tape of the calls of Connecticut owl species will be played so students can hear the unique voice of each owl in order to learn how to identify these nocturnal creatures by sound alone.

Lastly, students will divide into groups to dissect owl pellets in order to discover the bones and fur of owl food sources.