Citizens for Conservation (CFC) and Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation recently provided a Leave No Child Inside youth education program appropriately called “Give a Hoot for Owls”…and that is exactly what the owls did…hoot!

The main meeting room at Barrington Area Library was filled to near capacity with eighty-four enthusiastic children and their caregivers who eagerly anticipated the arrival of two live owls. In lieu of a class registration fee, participants were asked to bring much needed supplies for Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation. The donation table quickly overflowed with items such as paper towels, disinfectant wipes, fleece blankets, thirsty towels, and paper lunch bags. Our thanks to all for your generosity!

Attendees were surprised to hear how softly Junior, the great horned owl spoke, expecting a much louder voice coming from such a large bird of prey. Everyone was amazed at the large tufts of hair on Junior's head giving the appearance of very big ears. Participants quickly learned that owls have very good hearing and can hear a vole tunneling in the snow!

Pip, a barn owl, was next to take a tour around the seated attendees and quickly demonstrated how far he could turn his head – a whopping 270 degrees, just shy of a complete circle! With a flat and light colored heart-shaped face, black eyes, and a tuft a hair resembling a nose, the barn owl offers an odd and unusual face.

The final feature of the class was for children to become citizen scientists and dissect owl pellets which participants learned is the regurgitated hair and bones of a meal. Wearing non-latex gloves generously donated by Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, children analyzed the skeletal remains in the pellets and quickly determined that voles were the favorite meal, with mice coming in second, and only two bird and rat skeletons found in the pellets.

Citizens for Conservation’s next youth Class is Astronomy at Flint Creek Savanna South on April 9, from 7:30 – 9:30 pm. For more information about our educational classes, volunteer work days, and other programs visit www.citizensforconservation.org or call 847-382-SAVE (7283).