Live Owls in Old Saybrook

The Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center (RTPEC) launched its first program for the Old Saybrook Acton Library in February of 2017.  Our debut featured our teacher/naturalist Amelia Graham and a CT Audubon bird handler and educator. The star of the program was Solo, an injured Barred Owl who survived a wing amputation after being caught in barbed wire.

CT Audubon teacher-naturalist introduces Solo, the Barred Owl, to library audience.

Graham lead a discussion on owl behavior that included the unique digestive tract of owls. Each participant explored and probed regurgitated owl pellets and discovered more about the diet of owls after identifying evidence of morsels like rat and mouse skulls, bird feathers, and jaw bones. Some families even brought bones home for further examination.  

Our next live owl and pellet dissection event will occur at the Henry Carter Hull Library in Clinton on June 14. Check the RTPEC website for more details as we get closer to the event.