Here are some tips on how to study the contents of Owl pellets.
Owl pellets are small, sausage-shaped objects, containing the undigested parts of the birds’ food which they eject through the mouth.
Generally they are quite different from droppings in that they don’t smell and are not unpleasant to work with. That said we do suggest you wear some gloves when carrying out this work and make sure that you take care if you use any sharp objects.
They consist of things like the bones of birds, mammals and fish, claws and beaks as well as things like seed husks.
An owl will often swallow its prey whole. Once that has happened the food is broken up and then goes into the stomach for digestion, some parts are only partly digested and this is what is ejected.
Step one: Gather your equipment
This is what you will need:
- Container to soak the pellet before dissecting it
- Disinfectant (e.g., Dettol)
- Something to put your pellet on for dissection
- Rubber gloves
- Tweezers
- Cocktail stick
- Kitchen roll or paper to dry the contents
- Something to mount your finds on
- Magnifying lens
- Camera to take a photo of your finds
- An adult to post a photo of your finds on the Langdyke facebook page
Step two: Get started
After you have soaked your pellet in water with a few drops of disinfectant for 30 minutes, you are ready to go. Place the pellet in a dish and start to pull it apart with the tweezers and a cocktail stick.
Step three: Dry off your finds
Place your finds on a piece of kitchen paper to dry
Step four: Collate your finds
Once your finds have dried, you can mount them on a piece of card with some glue. When you are done, remember to take a photo and share it on the Langdyke facebook page.
Here are some useful links to find out more:
Barn Owl Pellet Analysis and Dissection – The Barn Owl Trust
Owl pellet contents – small mammal bone identification guide (barnowltrust.org.uk)
