Pellets stink, but the library doesn’t

Danika Cox presented the difference in the design of owl wings using visual aids at HJ Nugen Library. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)

Brogan Kelly would not say that this was his favorite activity at HJ Nugen Library, but he was certainly a good sport as he jumped right in and hunted for bones in an owl pellet. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)

Friends Kinley Burden (left) and Ireland Kelly (right) co-investigated an owl pellet at the “Whoo’s There” event Tuesday. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)

Young investigators were invited to make observations about the visual aids Henry County Head Naturalist Danika Cox used in her presentation. They were also gifted badges for their successful investigations into owl pellets. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)

NEW LONDON — Tuesday afternoon, 19 children gathered in HJ Nugen Public Library’s basement to learn about owls and dissect their waste pellets.

“Whooo's Here” with Henry County Conservation’s naturalists is one of many programs offered by the library this summer.

The sponsorship of Lorber Insurance Agency allowed for each child to dissect their very own owl pellets to discover what the owls ate.

Prior to getting down to the dirty business of dissection, Head Naturalist Danika Cox taught the young investigators how different raptor type birds are from other birds.

"An animal with razor sharp talons or beaks that eat other animals,“ is how one young man described raptors to Cox, and she wholeheartedly agreed.

Cox took the opportunity to teach the children the difference between raptor beaks, feet, and wings.

According to Cox, one of the design differences between a raptor and other birds is their feet.

A raptor’s feet have sharp talons which they use to attack their prey.

To further demonstrate her point, Cox showed the children an owl foot with talons next to a large and flat Blue Heron foot.

“The beak is like your knife and fork,” Cox said as she showed off an owl skull.

“Their feathers are designed so they can fly silently,” she further explained with multiple visuals aids of various owl wings.

Cox explained that owls do not chew their food, but instead swallow it whole, and the undigested parts are compacted into pellets.

“These pellets tell scientists and naturalists a lot,” Cox said. “We are going to learn about what the animal ate and what food sources are in their area.”

“This is going to get messy,” she warned as she and Hansen set out paper, pellets, tweezers, and toothpicks for the investigation.

The children unwrapped, tore apart, and tried matching found bones with diagrams provided.

“It smells bad,” one child was overheard saying.

“This is probably one of my least favorite ones, because it is gross,” Kinley Burden said in comparison to other summer library programs.

Brogan Kelly’s favorites included, “the fish one and the rock one.”

Even though many found digging in owl droppings repulsive, every child participated.

Upcoming events at HJ Nugen include an escape room and movie experience for teens Saturday July 9 at 3 p.m., and a chance to learn, discuss, and touch various reptiles & arachnid July 12 at 6 p.m.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com