Lesson XXV

The Screech Owl

Leading thought—This owl is especially adapted to get its prey at night. It feeds largely on field mice, grasshoppers, caterpillars and other injurious insects and is therefore the friend of the farmer.

Method—This lesson should begin when the children first hear the cry of this owl; and an owlet in captivity is a fascinating object for the children to observe. However, it is so important that the children learn the habits of this owl that the teacher is advised to hinge the lesson on any observation whatever made by the pupils, and illustrate it with pictures and stories.

Observations—1. Have you ever heard the screech owl? At what time of the day or night? Why was this? Why does the owl screech? How did you feel when listening to the owl’s song?

2. Describe the owl’s eyes. Are they adapted to see by night? What changes take place in them to enable the owl to see by daytime also? In what way are the owl’s eyes similar to the cat’s? Why is it necessary for an owl to see at night? Are the owl’s eyes placed so that they can see at the sides like other birds? How does it see an object at the sides or behind it?

3. Note the owl’s beak. For what purpose is a hooked beak? How does the owl use its beak? Why do we think that the owl looks wise?

4. Describe the feet and claws of the screech owl. What are such sharp hooked claws meant for? Does an owl on a perch always have three toes directed forward and one backward?

5. Describe the colors of the screech owl. Are all these owls of the same color? How do these colors protect the bird from its enemies?

6. How is the owl’s plumage adapted to silent flight? Why is silent flight advantageous to this bird?

7. How does the owl’s ear differ from the ears of other birds? Of what special advantage is this? As the owl hunts during the night, what does it do in the daytime? How and by what means does it hide itself?

8. Where does the screech owl make its nest? Do you know anything about the devotion of the parent owls to each other and to their young? How many eggs are laid? What is their color? At what time of year do the little owls appear?

9. Where does the screech owl spend the winter? What do the screech owls feed upon? Do they chew their food? How do they get rid of the indigestible portion of their food? How does this habit help the scientists to know the food of the owls?

10. How does the screech owl work injury to the farmers? How does it benefit them? Does not the benefit outweigh the injury?

11. How many other kinds of owls do you know? What do you know of their habits?

Supplementary reading—Audubon Educational Leaflets, Nos. 22, 12, 14; Second Book of Birds, Miller, Chap. 32–3; Familiar Wild Animals, Lottridge; “The Boy and Hushwing,” Kindred of the Wild; “Koos, Koos, Koos” in Wilderness Ways; Wings and Fins, chap. 19; Heart of Oak Books, Vol. 4, p. 51; The Aziola, Shelley; American Birds, Finley.

TWO WISE OWLS

We are two dusky owls, and we live in a tree;
Look at her,—look at me!
Look at her,—she’s my mate, and the mother of three
Pretty owlets, and we
Have a warm cosy nest, just as snug as can be.

We are both very wise; for our heads, as you see,
(Look at her—look at me!)
Are as large as the heads of four birds ought to be;
And our horns, you’ll agree,
Make us look wiser still, sitting here on the tree.

And we care not how gloomy the night-time may be;
We can see,—we can see
Through the forest to roam, it suits her, it suits me;
And we’re free,—we are free
To bring back what we find, to our nest in the tree.

—Anonymous.