Owls are one of nature’s greatest birds. They are most often nocturnal, meaning they are active at night. All types of owls are predators, and they use their unique talons and beaks to catch their food, which mainly consists of rodents. Other unique adaptations include large, forward facing eyes that can see in the darkest nights, short round heads that pivot on a wide axis, and long sharp talons. Their beaks curve downwards, and they are covered in a soft coat of feathers that usually camouflages them with their habitat. Owls live in a large variety of habitats on every continent with the exception of Antarctica. Owls come in a variety of sizes between the 112+ species know, from less then five inches to over thirty. Members of the order Strigiformes, owls are divided into two broad groups: the Tytonidae and the Strigidae, with the latter containing the bulk of the different varieties of species. Owls have very few natural predators, but habitat loss and hunting brought on by humans is endangering many species. Conservation efforts are active around the world, and many find owl protection a noteworthy cause. Owls are majestic and beautiful creatures that help humans in pest management, and play important roles in many old religions. They are a vital component of their ecosystems, and a priceless asset to our world’s natural realm.
The Internet Resources
Physiology and Anatomy of Owls
- A detailed list of links regarding different parts of owl physiology. Includes information about behavior, food and hunting, eyes and vision, digesting, ears and hearing, feathers and flight, beak, talons and feet, skeletal system, and breeding/reproduction of owls. Pages feature descriptions as well as photos and diagrams to show different traits of owls. I found this site to be full of information; in fact I was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer volume of facts posted. Did you know that the reason owl beaks curve downward is so they don't interfere with their vision? This site is full of unique information like that. I give this site 5 droppings out of 5 for having a superior amount of information as well as an organized layout.
Photos of Owls
- This webpage contains photos of dozens of types of owls from all around the world. It also includes a section that features owl calls. Each photo is accompanied by a description of the species, and when paired with hearing the call, I found myself immersed in The Ultimate Owl Experience. This site was fun because in addition to seeing the owls, you could also hear them. The format made it easy to access all the information for a species in one place, and I enjoyed learning about all the different types of owls. From Barred Owls to Whiskered Screech Owls, this site has a wealth of information on all types. This owl site gets 5 droppings, because it is full of useful information and has a cool layout. Be sure to check out the photos of the barn owls - they're gorgeous!
All About Owls!
- A page about owls aimed for youth, with information, crafts, photos, and learning aids. Quizzes and printouts are posted on the site, making it a fun place to go and learn about owls as well as play. This site gets 3 droppings, because even though it didn't have much information, it was fun and easy to navigate. Great for kids and owlets alike! By the way, an owlet is a baby owl, one of the many helpful facts posted here!
Owl Games
- · A small collection of owl games including puzzles, memory, and others. I liked the memory best, although I wasn't very good at it! My best time was 2: 37, something I'm sure you can beat! The other games were fun too, quite difficult in fact. The site also features Owl of the Month, and collections of world owls and European owls. A great place to have fun and learn! This site earns 2 droppings, because the games are limited. They are also very difficult, and the games get boring after a while. Despite it's shortcomings, however, I still found it to be a fun place to go to play in an educational manner.
Endangered Burrowing Owls Information
- This is the official website of the Saskatchewan Burrowing Owls Information Center, and provides information on Burrowing Owls, one of the most endangered species of owls in the world today. This site gives information on the species, as well as conservation tips and tools. They have special sections designed to help get kids interested, as well an Adopt-an-Owl program! This website is great because it appeals to all age groups, and is loaded with information that helps us aid this special species. Habitat loss, low reproduction rates, and high mortality are all affecting this Burrowing owls, and this website helps us learn how to help them. The site also sponsors the 'Owlet Awards' for local youth who are helpful in conservation. This site gets 6 droppings out of 5, because it is full of information, but more importantly it aids conservation of this unique species, making it a very valuable page.
Owl Myths and Legends
- This is a large compilation of legends and myths regarding owls. Did you know that in Navajo folklore, an owl was a symbol of death? The presence of an owl in a hospital meant someone there was doomed to die. Pictures are included with most of the stories even though some of them are pretty crude. This site is fun and cute, and also informative. It even answers the age old question; 'Why are owls wise?' I give it 4 droppings, because it doesn't have very nice design, but is still full of information.
American Audubon Society Website
- This page is the official website for the country’s most renowned bird society. Go to the search bar and enter 'owls', and you will discover a myriad of links, all for articles about owls. Links include pest owl management, owl conservation, types of owls, and many more! This site even has a study guide for owl pellet dissection! Did you know that the Saw-whet owl was named after its call? I learned about that and more at the Audubon Society page. I give this site 5 droppings, because it can take someone a lifetime to fully absorb all the information it has to offer!
Owl Cam
- Owl Cam is a website that hosts a series of movies showing owls live in the wild. Using state of the art technology, they film and photograph owls near their nest box, resulting in a documentary showing owls in their natural habitat without human interference. The Barred owl's story is divided into eight segments, by year. They also have pages that help answer your questions about owls and tell you how to build your own owl house. This site is a great resource for owl lovers, and it is also fun to watch them in their natural habitat. This site earns five droppings out of five, because it is very high tech and also very useful. If you want to learn how to rescue an orphaned owlet, come here!
Care and Use of Owls and Other Birds
- Even though this site may not be fancy, it is very informative. It gives tips on how to care for owl diseases, handle owls, and protect yourself when interacting with owls. The site is easy to navigate and organizes information under headings. I found it to be very interesting, even though I am not and probably never will be an owl caretaker. I give it 4 droppings, for excellent content and fabulous organization.
Owlet Photos
- This page, although small, posts unique photos of owlets. It only has about 5 photos, but they are rare and very cute! They show Elf owlets, Flammulated owlets, Great Grey owlets, Great Horned owlets, and Screech owlets. The babies are very charming and adorable! This is a great site for seeing up-close photos of baby owls, and it earns 4 droppings, because even though the content is small, it is mighty cute! My favorite one it of the Great Horned Owlets, they look almost scary!
Owls and Harry Potter
- I didn't think it was possible. I spent many a night debating over its existence. I debated whether or not to include this site here on my hotlist. But here it is, despite all my rational thought and arguing. Here is: a site devoted entirely to the role of owls in the Harry Potter series. I jest not. This site is basically a huge article about the types of owls and the purposes they serve in the Harry Potter movie and book series. This site goes into great detail explaining the role owls play, as well as providing information on the species featured. It totally stands out a page that combines science, entertainment, and literature into one tremendous mind warp. Were you aware that Harry's owl, Hedwig, is actually a Great Snowy owl? I never thought it was possible, but this site made me actually care about Harry Potter! As someone who never read and never plans to read the books, I found this interesting, although I didn't know who most of the characters were. This site earns 4 droppings because it combines various forms of media, and gets Lauren interested in Harry Potter.
My Owls of the World.
- This site, although it contains common information, presents it in a unique way: from the point of view of the owls it's about! This website contains information about various types of owls and their habitat, as well as a quiz and a section on owl art. Although it is information that is seen in many other sites, this one is special because of its exceptional format and the devotion of its creator, Mrs. Prichard! She truly loves owls and is passionate towards teaching about them. The quiz was fun, even though I only got 80% (4/5 correct). I enjoyed this site because it presented the information in a new and different way, and it was very entertaining. 4 out of 5 droppings for creativity.
Content by Lauren K
http://www.kn.sbc.com/wired/fil/pages/listowlsla.html
Last revised Thu Mar 11 20:32:20 US/Pacific 2004
