Watch Barn Owls Swallow Rodents Whole | Deep Look
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ต.ค. 2024
- Barn owls swoop down on rodents and swallow them whole - gophers, voles and mice, gone in a few gulps. But how do they keep down all that food? Well, they don’t. In a few stomach-turning steps, they transform the varmints into compact balls of fur and bones known as pellets.
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The secret to turning a whole rodent into an owl pellet is in a barn owl’s stomach. It has two chambers.
The first chamber oozes digestive juices, like our stomach. The second one - the gizzard - squeezes the rodent remains with powerful muscles. The fats and proteins get absorbed. After about eight hours in the gizzard, the fur and bones become tightly compacted into an oval that the owl regurgitates.
---+ What can scientists learn by studying what's inside owl pellets?
“I think it’s really fascinating you can study their diet so easily by dissecting these pellets,” said Matt Johnson, who oversees the Barn Owl Research Team at Cal Poly Humboldt, in Arcata, California. He and his students monitor 300 nest boxes set up by winegrowers in the state’s Napa Valley.
Winegrowers invite barn owls (Tyto furcata) to raise their young in nest boxes. By hunting gophers and voles, which can damage grapevines, barn owls help with pest control.
Dissecting owl pellets and pulling out the bones hidden inside helps researchers identify what animals a barn owl ate and how many.
In Napa, “voles, mice and gophers make up 90% of what they eat,” said Johnson. “Mice are almost always the third place in that list.”
“Their diet varies from place to place and year to year,” he added. “We’ve collected some pellets that are majority voles, or majority gophers.”
---+ How many rodents can a barn owl kill?
While a graduate student at Cal Poly Humboldt, Dane St. George estimated in 2020 that a family of barn owls living in and around a vineyard in Napa can eat 3,500 rodents a year. By tracking the barn owls’ movements, he found that almost 45% of the rodents they killed came from within vineyards.
---+ Find additional resources and a transcript on KQED Science:
www.kqed.org/s...
---+ The young barn owl coughing up a gigantic pellet in our episode was filmed by a camera in a nest box in Israel. Watch the whole video here: • Amazing, Barn Owl Nest...
And livestream barn owls, kestrels and other birds here: / chartergroupbirdcams
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#barnowls #owlpellet #deeplook
Hi Deep Peeps! We're getting a LOT of comments and questions about the researcher's bare hands during the dissection. Both Laura Echávez, a graduate student at Cal Poly Humboldt, and Chris Conroy, of UC Berkeley’s Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, dissected pellets on camera for us. Neither of them wore gloves. We discussed at length with each one of them whether they wanted to wear gloves. Both of them said that gloves would reduce the dexterity they needed to do the dissections. And both agreed that pathogens pose a very low risk. So there ya go!
That's what I thought they had a good reason to not wear them!🙂👍
Like handling old paper goods... the gloves are more of a danger to the work than a boon.
Something I'd never want to do myself haha
It's awesome to see people with passions like this!
So owls “Vecna” their prey in the gizzard…
still, ew
The owl-face hat they used to cover the owl's head is way too cute.
Right? We all want one of those hats now. When life gets too complicated, just pull it down over your eyes.
I love to crochet, and I will now make a human sized version for myself lol. This is amazing
I read your comment before I got to that part, and did not expect that hat! 😍
"I assure boss, it's of the utmost importance that the protection hat looks like an owl head. We cannot work otherwise."
@@KQEDDeepLook I'd buy their whole stock.
I got to “dissect” owl pellets when I was a kid, was pretty cool seeing all the bones of different creatures.
Wtf
Me too!
Wow!
**glues bones in the shape of a skeleton on construction paper**
I remember *not* finding it gross, which is pretty weird for something that came out of an animal's digestive system.
0:43 their gently swaying heads are too cute! ❤️
I really do hope the chemicals used to keep away pests don't impact the health of the owls. Glad to see scientists are taking measures to assist them.🤗👍🏻
Well one chemical that is natural and might work on these mammalian pest but will have no effect on the birds is capsaicin, a bio-chemical produced by peppers, it has no deadly effects on mammals just acts as an irritant and has no effects at all on birds
@@sunshineleith5556 wow, thanks a lot for sharing that.
Well they most likely will
I wonder if there would be any significant difference if the farmers didn't use the chemicals and let the owls do the hunting all on their own, long-term
Unfortunately, they do. Some owls have died due to poisoning. So let’s try to normalize not using pesticides.
Who else can agree that deeplook never ceases to amaze us 💯🤗?
Owls are intelligent birds, they really do play an important role in keeping varmints in check. Going through those owl pallets is cool and gross at the same time 😂😂
Thanks, RJ! We got to try something different with this episode.
@@KQEDDeepLook really glad to hear that, you guys always keep me fascinated 💯❤
I know right, their content is amazing!!!
@R J, I second that. They are truly intelligent
Exactly those owls are pretty cool!
this is easily the most disgusting episode of deep look ever, love it
I could not imagine dissecting a dead animal with no gloves at all.
I love how Deep Look not only shows us the animals (or other living forms) in close detail but they often show scientists researching them and/or how they relate to us, wether they're pests, pest control or have some structure that can be copied by engineers or physicians in our own mechanisms and bodies. Gives a sense of usefulness to our curiosity.
Sitting in my car in the parking lot outside my office with some extra time, about to start the day.
Love being lucky enough to catch a brand new Deep Look just in time :)
Birds are such cool and creepy modern dinosaurs
Wow. How big the earth is, i watch this in my bed under the blanket before i get sleep..
That’s exactly what I’m doing at this moment lol. Eating some breakfast before work in the car with some extra time 😂
I can't believe that the researcher dissects the rodent remains with their bare hands!
Barn owls look so cool! And they eat rodents like they're in a buffet.
The owl hat is so cute. I laughed when I saw it. 😂
Someone needs to knit about 500 of those.
ask around church's remember grandma, the community knitted so much
Barn Owls are really fascinating! However, Watching the Pellets get disassembled makes me feel quite squeamish!
that makes two of us
It is a popular student assignment in science class, at least here in California.
@@KQEDDeepLook cool! I live in asia, so that project's ones I can only dream of.
Do you have any owls in your area? Barn Owls can be found around the globe. If you can find where they roost or nest, look below and perhaps you will find a pellet. I found one on a trail a couple months ago.
@@KQEDDeepLook yes, there are indeed owls in my country. unfortunately, never heard any hoots at hight in where I live.
Owls are my favorite bird, such interesting creatures. They're cute too.
What a sophisticated digestive mechanism, another reason to Love those stealthy beautiful creatures
Put Hoot Hoot and Rattata together in Pokemon daycare.
Congratulations, your pokemon has grown a lot. By level it's grown
OWL PELLET!
Barn owls are very pretty birds. I was very lucky to get to see educational ones up close. For those who don't know what that is, these are owls (and other birds or animals) that have been rescued by wildlife rehabilitators and found to be unable to be returned to the wild because of their injuries, & they educate people on the wonders of nature, by showing them an owl, for example, something they may never get to see in the wild. 😊
I was also lucky this past month during a trip to visit my Auntie & Granny. They live in a rural area down south & every night after dinner, we'd watch the barred owls hunt in her front yard. Truly an incredible experience! 🥰
You guys and BBC earth are the best channels for filming 4K! Love your content❤
Thank you!
3:29 i just realized the head of the barn owl is in the shape of a heart, how cute!
I’m pretty sure most female owls have that, could be wrong
Yep, barn owls are well recognised by their heart-shaped faces.
2:27 The best glove commerical I've ever seen 😅
I absolutely adaro barn owls, thanks so much for not only a video on them, but with great camera quality
Hi Pedro how are you doing
Barn owls are amazing nocturnal raptors! They are so helpful and beautiful. Here's to hope the owls and owlets are not suffering from the pesticides. A great clip, as always.
They are such beautiful animals, I love their little head wobbles.
3:47 The owl hat just kills me.
IKR?
This is fascinating, but I feel like anyone examining owl pellets should be wearing gloves.
somebody buy her a box of examination gloves, its 2022.
0:05 - the music syncs really well with the owl's eating.
It's like they planned it that way or something
Mind = blown
After watching both this video and the one about how barn owls are quiet and deadly, I got a lot of knowledge. I never knew owls fly so quietly. Thanks a million, Deep Look.
in 3rd grade we dissected owl pellets, it was really gross at first, but after a while we all became fascinated in it and liked to excavate the fur to reveal the bones. It was a very interesting experience
Thanks for sharing!
Barn owls are my favourite owls. They look so cute
Been looking forward to a video on owls! Glad it’s here 🤓
woag! i remember when i was young i got to dissect an owl pellet in class, we didn't use any gloves and i remember wanting to try and reconstruct the little vermin skeleton
Owls are amazing creatures! They do some serious pest control and make the coolest cooing sounds.
My respect for them goes back to dissecting owl pellets as a kid & leaning of what all they will eat.
Oh no. The rodents are so cute, but so is the owl. Man nature is incredible, I love the way evolution works and stuff. How the owl is designed to squeeze out the juices and all that. And we're just hairless apes lol
You don't know how happy it makes me to see a video about owls and especially bawn owls which are my favorite breed of owls.
Just imagine me watching this episode after dinner. Even I gave out some pallets😂
Great stuff Deep Look!!!
A funny note about gophers is that they might not be doing as much harm as previously thought. They could actually be doing a very important part in nature. Just like with everything in life research gives us knowledge.
Everything has a purpose, except some humans, the only exceptions to the rule.
I need to know... who is this woman voicing these videos? She sound so wholesome, like she's reacting to the videos while giving out information☺☺☺
Hi Joao II. Our host narrator and co-writer for this episode was Maddie Sofia. Thank you for watching! -Gabriela, Deep Look producer
Thanks Deep Look for making a video on one of my favorite birds of prey! I've been waiting for this one.
This owls are how house cats started
Which came first: Owls or House Cats?
Dude… I LOVE this channel!!! The topics and way they present / educate us is top notch and makes for such great content. Great job!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Happened to watch this right after dinner. Made me regurgitate too.
"What do you do for living?"
Somebody : well uhh... You see... I dissect barn owl's vomit
I love all of the deep look bird videos they’re always so interesting
What a great channel. Awesome work y'all!
Not even wearing gloves while handling dead rodents💀
thank you! im literally so curious about this!! now i can sleep peacefully so thank you! 💞
Please wear gloves while sifting through animal remains. Gross.
BAE!! 😭
What have you done, Mumei?!
i just LOVE owls! not only are they cute but super cool hunters!
One of my favorite creatures to come to Stoddart Park for vacation from working. Fantastic.
Really interesting episode! Hope you do one on hornworms soon.
You guys are incredible!
Thanks! What other videos are favorites for you?
Love your content. Thanks Deep Look!
Nicely done, owls rock!
Thank you! Cheers!
I used to watch Kratts creatures and learned about owl pellets. I found one in my Grandparents back yard
When researches find out whether or not the owls are getting enough nourishment can you do another episode?
Love everything you guys do. You're awesome! - Some guy on the internet.
Ooh or even a community post at the minimum. I'd love updates!
Love all the call poly Humboldt representation here!
Owls are fascinating. I don’t have any barn owls on my property but I do have some great horned owls. My dogs hate them and I think they hate my dogs. I’ve seen them swoop the dogs when they’re out in the orchard grass pasture. I t always results in a real funny chase 😂
3:48 i had to pause cause i can't stop laughing!! 😂😂😂
Make more videos like this! They are amazing.
Thank you! Will do! In the meantime, we have over 150 previous episodes for you to enjoy.
@@KQEDDeepLook Already watched most of them!
I always see videos of people using animals for their own good, but never hear if they animals are fine with being there. Great video!
Barn Owls are my favorit! In science class as a kid we would dissect Barn Owl pellets 🦉
Very interesting channel! Thanks to you I got some more knowledge about these beautiful birds!!🦉🦉🦉
Matty is doing a wonderful job, great episode as usual
Just saw a family of barn owls nesting inside the Thunderbird ride at Holiday World.
Whoever did that music as it was eating was straight dope.
As usual, this was a real hoot!
Ow! Who threw that?
Well it could be worse. Instead of dissecting owl pellets it could be human ‘pellets’.
“This one ate two burgers and a serving of onion rings”.
I remember dissecting those owl ball things in school as a kid
Great video! Barn owls are my favorite type of owl
Oh wow. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to watch this while snacking myself.
Awesome video as always!
Thanks again!
I'm early!! These videos are so well done and informative 👏
Hi
I am watching at 9:09 pm
What time are you watching?
@@unknown-fs9ro 16.14
Glad you like them!
I'm amazed at how they can just touch these kinds of things without gloves on.
In the UK, these beautiful birds catch a LOT of mice and are thus valued as vermin-catchers. We need to help them as much as we can.
Cats are extremely destructive so owls and other natural predators should do the work. Cats should be kept inside. Birds are in major decline even going extinct due to cats. The UK is one of the worst countries that let cats roam. USA is bad too. Cats do more harm then good.
This brought flashbacks of the time we inspected owl pellets in school. I completely for that was even a thing
Owl: *pellet.mp3*
Also Owl: *i fell empty inside.*
First time I ever seen a owl in wild I was in my car near woods at night when I decided to play rabbit distress call from TH-cam through car speakers via bluetooth. I was expecting coyotes or a fox. Instead I seen something big fly to tree near me. I shined it with flashlight and realized it was a owl. It was very exciting.
These things look so spooky!! But they're one of my favorite species of owl.
Owl: Oi mister, wanna buy some owl pellets?
I just never understand why no one wears gloves when handling disgusting things
Their screams are terrifying but they are beautiful
Owls are cute.
We dissected owl pellets in first grade. It was so cool!
I’m pretty sure I did something similar in Either 2nd or 6th grade.
Amazing view. Great shooting work as always; great sharing! Greetings friend💐🤍 stay safe 🌹💞
I just wanna ask, are all owls like that?
There’s a Barn Owl on our backyard since June. I’m wondering if a male or female owl. So pretty owl.
If it has spots it's a female, if not it's a male
we had a tawny owl couple come live in our neighborhood, and we had like army of Squirrels but after the summer, i have seen 2 of them anymore, they where super effective . also tawny owl are loud
I remember dissecting owl pellets in school. Blew my mind.
I bet it did!
That owl slurping the poor mouse like a noodle 🍜 🐀
Wow amazing video
I like it
I hope you always successfully
“A little mouse comes squeaking into my nest. What possesses it to do so? Please, do sate my curiosity.”
- An Enemy from a Roblox Game
Shouldn't that scientist be wearing gloves?
No gloves 🧤 straight hand's on with the furballs.... hopefully whoever she cooks for love's her foreverrrr... 😁🙋🏾♂️
Why isn’t she using gloves 😮😭😂
barn owls are by far the most adaptive of all owls
so nothing comes out of the owl's backside like other animals?
Let’s stick a compactor with a hay baler and call it an OWL.
God: *FANTASTIC!!!!!*