Where do Owl Pellets Come From ... Image Heavy

[Retief]

Well, to paraphrase, "Out of the Mouths of Owls ...."

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Amazing what happens in just a couple of seconds. I have seen Owls drop pellets before, but I have never been lucky enough to photograph the entire process.

Any favorites in the bunch?

I haven't posted in quite some time, thought this would be a good start :biggrin:

 

[InTheMist]

Ewwww...

You just saved me fifteen bucks for breakfast.

Great documentary shots nonetheless!

 

[wizzard0003]

Gross, but cool series...! :tongue:

 

[Louis Champan]

Super set of images Bill. I think you've manage to capture what very few people get to see, very well done.

 

[Butlerkid]

YUCK!

Great series, though!

#2 and 6 are my prefs, followed by #8....

 

[cajun angel]

Yuck is right! Poor little thing, I thought he'd choke before he got that thing out! Awesome series! It's hard to pick a favorite - they ALL speak volumes!

 

[james thiel]

Well done Bill. Glad it is too late for breakfast and too early for lunch. Maybe this should be on my diet plan. You were sure fortunate to have seen this and to think each image in the set is spot on really shows off the quality of the camera and the photographer.

 

[johncarol]

Ditto the great work. They all look equally painful. Seems he should void a little more often.

 

[garyk]

excellant work on showing real nature.

 

[Randy]

i needed a new lcd anyway, but the wall didn't need painting

nice shot, no i can't really say that, how about sick shot, you are a disgustingly good photographer

 

[Retief]

Geeze, what is with all the "Yuck", "Eeeeeewwww" stuff. I'm guessing that none of you have cats? Now that Hairball business, THAT is truly yucky!!!!! :biggrin:

Really fascinating what you can find by dissecting these pellets. One of the things the ornithologist were doing around here was dissecting the Snowy Owl pellets to see what they were eating, as we don't have Lemmings around these parts. Quite fascinating when they found out how much bird life the owls were eating when in our area. My daughter is an elementary school teacher, and they order owl pellets for a science project each year. The kids love it, and THEY don't think it is Yucky. Maybe a little gross, but what the heck, they are kids after all ......

Thanks, all. This was a very rare treat for me, it is a process I have never seen witnessed before.

My two favorites are #6 and #8. #6 is the only one I have fully processed so far.

 

[prairie_pal]

I'll never eat another meatball as long as I live.

 

[wizzard0003]

Geeze, what is with all the "Yuck", "Eeeeeewwww" stuff. I'm guessing that none of you have cats? Now that Hairball business, THAT is truly yucky!!!!! :biggrin:

Really fascinating what you can find by dissecting these pellets. One of the things the ornithologist were doing around here was dissecting the Snowy Owl pellets to see what they were eating, as we don't have Lemmings around these parts. Quite fascinating when they found out how much bird life the owls were eating when in our area. My daughter is an elementary school teacher, and they order owl pellets for a science project each year. The kids love it, and THEY don't think it is Yucky. Maybe a little gross, but what the heck, they are kids after all ......

Thanks, all. This was a very rare treat for me, it is a process I have never seen witnessed before.

My two favorites are #6 and #8. #6 is the only one I have fully processed so far.

When I was a kid we vacationed in northern Quebec every august (camping/fishing)... One year
(I think I was 14) I found two owl pellets under a tree... Dissecting one showed it to consist of small
rodent parts, chipmunk or mouse possibly... I always assumed that they pooped them out though,
I didn't realise they regurgitated them...

And yes, I've owned cats most of my adult life and hair-balls are MUCH worse and usually found in
the WORST possible places, like on my pillow or in the middle of my keyboard... :tongue:

 

[catalyst]

Bill -

What an amazing series! Each one is great, and even more so in your sequence.

I'm thinking, at this point, that #3 and #6 stand out individually, but . . . geez! :biggrin:

 

[prairie_pal]

Print some posters and attach them to a sandwich sign board. Then stand outside a vegetarian restaurant.

I have to give you credit though for a keenly photographed event.

 

[wizzard0003]

...Then stand outside a vegetarian restaurant...

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[troylim]

Yuck is right. It amazes me how much they could eat and how little come out from other end, then they spit out this big palette.

 

[beaucamera]

Brings new meaning to sleeping with your mouth open!
Fantastic series.

Virginia
aka beaucamera

 

[Retief]

Thanks, all.

After reading all of these replies, from just an itty-bitty-little-Owl, I can only imagine what folks would say of an Owl Pellet from a BIG Owl. Hmmm, anyone know of an owl that eats something larger, like a Rabbit? Now THAT would be a "Pellet Expulsion" worth witnessing I think

 

[HappyFish]

Honey, can I have a kiss now?...................I have seen this is action only once. A gho in the pouring rain at Merrit Island. It came out really fast, I got one frame. I was shooting with a big trash bag over the camera and lens. I like your set, well done.