All about owls : Nature club embraces world of our feathered friends
Members of the Wimbledon Common Nature Club met for a session on ‘Owl Pellets’ on Sunday, to discover what Barn Owls eat.
The morning started with a question and answer session on the life of owls, with youngsters learning dozens of interesting facts about the types of families they are in, their habits and their habitats.
The children and their families then proceeded to dissect the Barn Owl pellets and found fur and skeletons of rats, mice, moles, shrews and birds.
Club leader Auriel Glanville said: “We had a fascinating morning learning about the lives of owls and, in particular, Barn Owls and the creatures they eat. Also how threatened by habitat loss and climate change they are.
“We can help by protecting trees, where they often find holes to nest in, putting up nest boxes and putting adhesive strips on the outside of windows to prevent them hitting the glass.”
The nature club’s next session will be on Sunday, February 2, when the theme will be “Life Under the Microscope” with the Quekett Microscopical Club, meeting at the Information Centre, Wimbledon Common, 10am to 12 noon.
It is aimed at 6-14 year olds and is free, although donations are welcome. You can contact the club on 07837 910072, or via email: auriel.glanville@btinternet.
Anyone interested in volunteering is also invited to get in touch.
Pictured top: Jet Southwood-Jeffries, five, with her father Jack Jeffries, examining an owl pellet (Picture: Auriel Glanville)