Barn Owl Web Cam

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This is a unique opportunity to observe a pair of Barn Owls and their owlets.
via live feed from an owl box is located in a residential backyard in San Marcos, CA that is 15 feet off the ground. The mother owl appears to be a first time mom. The owl is about 14 inches tall. She laid her first egg on February 13th. Owlets are expected around mid to late March. Incubation is 30 to 34 days. Owlets will hatch in the order laid, unlike chickens which hatch together.

The male has a white chest and face. He usually shows up after dark but has spent an entire day with the female. The female is named Molly and the male McGee. The Barn Owl is widespread but usually a scarce species. They are strictly nocturnal and rarely observed in flight during daylight hours.

Lesson Plan:

1.) Observe the Barn Owls on the cam and discuss your observations. Research any questions that arise during the observation.

See also Birds of Prey

Printables:
Barn Owl Coloring page

Owl Blank notebooking elements

Owl Pellet Dissection packet

Online Resources:

Molly's Box Blog

Outside photos of The Owl Box, Molly and McGree

Barn Owl information, sounds & photos

Virtual Owl Pellet Dissection

Purchase owl pellets

Birds of Prey

"Birds of prey---powerful eagles, hawks, and owls---have very different lifestyles from Florida's backyard songbirds. Also known as raptors, they are predator, hunting and feeding on smaller animals (called prey) such as insects, mice, rabbits , fish snakes, and even other birds. They often eat sick and weakened animals, sometimes even dead animals (called carrion) and they help to keep the population of rodents and insect pests in check." The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida; page 102

Discussion Questions:

1. What physical characteristics do all birds of prey or raptors have in common?
2. Name five types of raptors that can be found in Florida.
3. What animal used to be considered a bird of prey but is no longer considered one by Ornithologists? Why is this bird no longer considered a raptor?
4. What is the difference between a diurnal animal and a nocturnal one?
   

Activities:

1. Go on a field trip to learn more about birds of prey.
2. Choose one raptor to study and include in your notebook.
3. Study the beaks and talons of raptors up close. Draw pictures for your notebook.
4. Print out worksheet and have students circle the raptor talons
   

Suggested Reading:
Peterson Field Guides for young naturalists: Birds of Prey by Jonathan P. Latimer/Karen Stray Nolting

Online Resources:
PDF on Raptors
Conserve Wildlife Raptor Page
Sea World's Raptor Sheet
Raptor Related Words
Skulls Unlimited
IBC (The Internet Bird Collection)
Global Raptor information network

Field Trip Suggestions:

Busch Wildlife Animal Sanctuary

Tour the sanctuary and see several birds of prey on exhibit. Inquire about educational lectures featuring birds of prey.

Okeeheelee Nature Center

Take a nature walk and explore the nature center. Book a group tour and attend the incredible "Raptor Chapter" lecture.

Audubon Center for Birds of Prey
Tour the Audubon Center for birds of prey or book a group tour and get an even more up close look at the amazing birds of prey currently housed at the center.

Introduction to Florida State Symbols

Activities:
Print out the Florida State Symbols PDF and include in your notebook

Suggested Reading:
Florida Facts and Symbols by Emily McAuliffe (2003)

Discussion Questions:
Quiz your students on Florida State Symbols. You may consider making this a game!
Ask your students what their favorite state symbol is and why.

Also see Florida Symbols for more lesson plan ideas and resources

Ten Thousand Islands: An estuary field trip

For part one of our study on the Everglades we went on a field trip just outside of Everglades National Park with 3 naturalists, one of whom is also a U of F Sea Grant Extension Agent. What an amazing learning opportunity this was for our little co-op of 4 adults and 6 children ages 3-9 years old.
During our half day tour with Everglades Area Tours we took a boat through part of Ten Thousand Islands and then set up camp on one of the islands. From there the children explored the beach and estuaries and even had an opportunity to use a seine net. Once the seine net was brought out it was hard to tell who enjoyed it the most----the children or the adults. At any rate, it's safe to say a good time was had by all. We saw some amazing creatures which always reminds me of the incredible Creator we have.


We will include some of the photos below in our Science Notebooks, after we receive a little follow up help from our guide Bryan, in properly labeling and classifying them. The children will then choose one or two of the things we saw today to do additional research on. I am going to take a wild guess and say the Batfish is going to make the short list. For me, a close runner up would be the flat fish. That creature lays on the bottom of the sand with both eyes on one side of its head! It is truly a remarkable looking creature.

During our trip we also had an opportunity to see and touch Sea Pork!

Sea pork got its name because after death, the rubbery tunic bleaches to white, resembling salt pork or fatback.

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Another wonderful find was the Horse Conch, Florida's state shell. After a few false starts with Lightening Welks (left footed) we finally found a couple. It saved us a trip to the local shell store where I most likely would have been talked into purchasing one by the kids.

In addition to the 157 photos taken on our visit, we brought a few treasures home (molt of horseshoe crab, tulip shell, and worm rock). None of them were living, of course.
We are trying to be Young Florida Naturalists after all.

Bird Beaks

Lesson Plans
Eduplace.com Bird Beak Lab
Ranger Rick Naturescope: Birds, Birds, Birds lesson plan

Online Resources:
Backyard Nature Bird Beaks Page
Teacher's Domain Bird Beak Gallery
Bone Clones Osteological Reproductions

Activities:
1.) Visit Peekabeak to learn how birds use their beaks like a tool.
2.) Visit Natural History Museum's Bills and Beak page. Print out and include in lapbook.
3.) Print out the Bird Beak Record Sheet and create a lab activity.
4.) Print out build-a-bird-kit and include in notebook
5.) View Teacher's Domain Bird Beak Gallery with your students and have them guess what type of food the bird eats based on their beak.

Handbook of Nature Study

If you do not have your own copy of the Handbook of Nature Study you can use this online version at no charge.