Savannah Sparrows at Supawna Meadows. Tundra Swans on Mannington Marsh. Bald Eagles from Sunset Bridge. Non-stop flocks of Snow Geese passing overhead.
Saturday’s cruise through Salem County did hold some nice, though not surprising, sights.
I was perhaps more pleased to find some authentic educational aids.
We stumbled across an old abandoned pole barn during our journey. Being in one of its geographic strongholds, I eagerly entered the large, doorless barn in hopes of finding a Barn Owl.
My not-quite-a-birder-yet partner was taken aback by the rustic beauty of this simple yet near perfect architectural design. My focus was true to the mission - find owls!
Though whitewash was everywhere, living, breathing, roosting owls were not to be found.
Our barnstorming adventure did, however, yield an invaluable tool to bird education - several large owl pellets.
My return home was accompanied by the announcement, “Daddy has a surprise!” After a brief guessing game, our four year old daughter was begging to open the “owl throw up”.
We have already searched through two of them. My classes will get explore a few pellets. The last of them will be used for a previously scheduled “Owl Moon” read along activity at my school next week for our students’ younger siblings.
An old barn, several digested rodents, and a satisifed owl help educate dozens of children.
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