Education Spotlight: Owl Laboratory

Owls have a unique digestive system. What they can't digest, they cough back up! In the WBS "Owl Laboratory" program, you have a visit from a live owl to learn about them and why owl pellets form and how they can help biologists. Then you dissect a real owl pellet with the help of a WBS Naturalist. To schedule a program for your group or classroom, please call our Office of Wildlife Learning at 636-225-4390.

These fabulous pictures were taken by Gay Schroer at the beautiful butterfly house in Chesterfield, Missouri. To learn more about the butterfly house, visit www.butterflyhouse.org

Education Spotlight: All About Owls

Among the many wonderful education programs offered by the World Bird Sanctuary, our owl programs are a popular choice. Our education programs offer a rare opportunity to meet birds up close and in person while learning about their biology, habits, and conservation.

Over 200 different species of owls share our earth. Meet several of these different types while learning the importance of their existence. "All About Owls" gives you insight into those mysterious birds of the night. Combine with an "Owl Pellet Study" for a truly educational and entertaining experience. "All About Owls" and a companion program, "Owl Laboratory," are appropriate for children (3rd grade and higher) and adults. To schedule a program for your group or classroom, please call our Office of Wildlife Learning at 636-225-4390.

These photos were taken by Gay Schroer at the beautiful butterfly house in Chesterfield, Missouri. To learn more about the butterfly house, visit www.butterflyhouse.org

Campers meet Trevor, our Eurasian Eagle Owl, and help demonstrate how humans can move their eyes, while owls must move their entire head to spot prey or a threat.

Learning why owls can turn their heads 270 degrees, while we humans cannot.

Campers meet Shakespeare, our Barred Owl, and learn to recognize the "hoot" of the Barred Owl, one of Missouri's most common owls


Campers meet Twig, our Eastern Screech Owl, and learn why he wouldn't make a good pet even though he's VERY cute.


Children meet Goblin, our Common Barn Owl. Don't let the name fool you--Barn Owls in Missouri are seldom seen and very threatened. The children learn all about what is threatening this beautiful species.

The children get to examine an owl wing up close and personal

Eagle owlet walkabout

Another visit with our newest, cutest babies. After enjoying a delicious breakfast of rat (see June 25th), they were ready to explore:

Hello Lenore!

As I reported a couple of days ago, we've had a changing of the guard (or in this case, the ravens) at the Education Training Center. Mischief and her sister Lenore, our white naped ravens have traded places. Mischief can now be seen at our Visitor Center at WBS's public site, or taking your money for our donation box at one of our programs. Lenore is relaxing out of the spotlight, and I am happy to see her. Lenore is sometimes referred to as "the cuddliest raven," and she really appreciates scratches and attention from the people she likes. Corvids are particular about the company they keep, and there is nothing better than being approved of by a raven or crow.

Here's Miss Lenore demonstrating her favorite vocalization:



Lenore can say hello, but for the most part she's above using human language, and certainly not inclined to use it on cue!

Kestrel fledglings

WBS rescued two American kestrel chicks earlier this month and fostered them with our European kestrels (see post and video from June 6). I'm thrilled to say that the foster parents did a beautiful job and both chicks have fledged and will be released in the next week or so. I hope to document their release as well!

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Hungry owlets

As promised, here is a video of our delightful new Eurasian eagle owl chicks having their breakfast. This video was taken on June 20th. They are two weeks old. At this stage, the chicks are taking large pieces of meat and some with fur in order to give them casting material.

Mischief the raven can't say goodbye

Every year Mischief, our white naped raven, leaves her life of luxury at our Education Training Center (where I volunteer) to perform for half the year in our education programs. When she isn't taking money to stuff in the donations box, she is on view at our visitor center during summer and fall. I tried to teach her majesty to say goodbye for the camera, but she doesn't believe in goodbyes.



When Mischief goes out, her sister Lenore moves in to revel in six months of pampering. I'll have videos of Lenore posted soon, but here's a little picture of my new favorite raven. And yes, I say that to all the ravens, but you gotta love the one you're with!

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Brand new eagle owls

We have two brand-spanking new Eurasian eagle owl chicks to feed and admire. As a preview of what's coming up, here are some pictures I took at a feeding last Thursday. The smiley guy up front is kind of a camera hog as you can see. He's really hamming it up, or just happy to have a full belly. Did you know that owls don't have crops?

I also took some video, so look for those later this week.

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Little rescued vulture is thriving

The turkey vulture chick we rescued in early June (see June 10th post) is growing up. She's been isolated from humans as much as possible and fed using a ghost (a long fabric sheet draped over the body) and a vulture puppet to simulate mom. You will notice in the videos that we are silent, still, and as inconspicuous as we can be.

She (or he, but she's Gladys to me) is wonderfully healthy and has a big bird appetite. We hope to release this chick back into the wild and so far she is right on track.


This video shows the chick being weighed and having her brooder towels changed.


This one shows the actual feeding. Thanks Jen for the puppet show!

Goodbye Travis

Travis, our red tailed hawk, died in her sleep Thursday evening. Rather than add new posts this week I'll be adding remembrances from those who knew and loved Travis to this post. Regular posts will resume next Sunday.



Travis was illegally taken from her nest as a chick and raised on a horrible diet of hot dogs and bologna which led to rickets and permanently bowed her legs. She was confiscated by the Missouri Department of Conservation and given to the World Bird Sanctuary in 1987. For 21 years she held a special place in our hearts.

After arriving at WBS, Travis was nurtured and fed an appropriate diet, but the early damage to her body could not be undone. In spite of this, she became a fixture in our education programs around the country. In 2003, Travis retired to our lower site where she lived a peaceful life surrounded by those who loved her.

During her time with WBS, Travis not only educated the public, but also our staff, interns, and volunteers. Our donors and sponsors made caring for Travis (who needed a lifetime of care and medicine) possible, and many took a special interest in her case. It is impossible to say how much this hawk meant to all of us, but here are some words in honor of Travis:

In memory of Travis, our magnificent hawk

Angela K: I'll never forget how happy Travis always was at feeding time. The eager sounds she made at the sight of a meal, and the way she'd jump right up to the perch for it, will always be something I will happily remember.

Jennifer B: She was a sweet bird who trained many staff and volunteers, and educated thousands of people in her life. We will miss her.

Stephanie P: Travis was a marvelous hawk. She taught me more than I can say. I'll miss watching her watch the squirrels around her mew.

What is cuter than an Eastern screech owl?

A soaking wet Eastern screech owl! I was out in the weathering yard feeding the birds and noticed Timber enjoying a bath. I ran back in to grab my camera and...

behold, the cuteness:



Timber was injured as a chick and came to live with us at the World Bird Sanctuary because he couldn't be released. He's stolen a lot of hearts in our education programs and is one of our most popular birds.

Special guests!

A pair of house finches built their nest just inside the summer parrot enclosure. I was admiring the workmanship of the nest when up popped all these heads! After I fed the parrots, I watched from a distance as the parents flew in and out (they found a small hole in the structure) to feed the babies.

A quick visit with the fruit bats!

I've had a few requests for another fruit bat moment! Batty and Scar are having a great spring and enjoying an abundant variety of fruit. In addition to fresh fruit, these guys enjoy a mixture of lowfat yogurt, banana, and bat biscuits (a nutritional diet similar to pellets) as well as fruit juice.

Here you can see them relaxing after dinner (and still licking their lips).

Another little rescue

Spring is always a busy time for rescue and rehab, particularly as young chicks fledge. Most of the time, a fledgling is just fine out of the nest. They are still being fed and watched over by their parents. Sometimes, however, intervention is required.

This spring has been VERY exciting for me. As a WBS volunteer, I have already had some "first ever" experiences: a turkey vulture chick (see June 9th) and this little Eastern Screech Owl. Since they are relatively common to the area, I've seen adults in the wild, but never a chick. And to hold them...it is incredible. With native species, the World Bird Sanctuary's goal for every bird is to heal, care for, and release it into the wild. While this is not always possible because of injury, this little guy is well on his way to a normal owl life.

If you find a fledgling, keep an eye on it and call your local animal rescue/conservation group before you intervene. It often takes a specialist to determine whether or not a chick needs our help. However, in the case of obvious injury or immediate danger, bring the chick to your local rescue.

These pictures show WBS staff member, Donna, with the new owl. After posing for some pictures, he went directly into a brooder in our baby room. Since then, he and another rescued screech owl have grown enough to thermoregulate and "graduated" to an adult enclosure (still in the baby room). They have limited human contact in order to avoid imprinting.

If you'd like to help feed and care for this wee one and our other rescues, you can make a secure donation of any amount (even a dollar helps!) by clicking the donation button on the right or calling 636-861-3225.

Say what you want about vultures...

This little Turkey Vulture is still the cutest thing I've ever seen!

This chick was rescued and brought to the sanctuary where he (or she!) is being fed and cared for and kept warm and safe. Once she is grown, she'll be released to live as the wild bird she was born to be. Until then I've secretly named her Gladys! Actually, vultures imprint very easily, so once this bird is out of the brooder she'll be restricted from human interaction and fed by WBS propagation specialists behind a blind so that she can't see the humans or know they've named her anything at all.



Did you expect a vulture to be so adorable?