Owls
This is a journaling adventure post! Travel to visit owls in various habitats. Sketch the owls in the videos, take notes on what you learn, and plan a trip to visit owls at a rehabilitation center.
We’re going to use owls as an example of species differences related to habitat.
We’re going to look at three different species of owls:
one that live in the high desert
one that lives at elevation in snowy tundra
and one that lives in old-growth coniferous forests
What type(s) of structural or behavioral differences do you expect to see?
There are a variety of owl species in the PNW (Pacific northwest), including the burrowing owl, snowy owl (an occasional visitor), and spotted owl.
Burrowing owls are small owls that nest underground in the high desert. Their feathers are a dusty soil color.
This owl lives at the High Desert Museum in Bend Oregon.
Snowy owls have white feathers that camouflage them from potential prey. They primarily live in the sub-arctic but also occasionally travel south into Oregon.
This owl lives at the Cascades Raptor Center In Eugene Oregon.
The threatened spotted owl has a mottled feather pattern that camouflages it in coniferous (evergreen needle) tree branches.
Photo source:
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