Ghosts in my Neighborhood: Meet the Owls of Central Pennsylvania

Renée Koma

Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Management

RPTM 326

Dr. Wentzel

April 5, 2021
Theme: The owls of Pennsylvania are like ghosts - often unseen, but always with us.

Trail/Locations: White Pine of Wisdom, Lake Trail junction with boardwalk trail, Lake Trail

Materials:
● A stick or other sturdy natural object that is roughly the size of each owl - to be passed
around
● Audubon bird guide

Outcome Objectives:
● Participants will:
○ Be able to recognize the preferred habitats of different owls
○ Be able to name several species of owl found in their great big backyard

Introduction: Out front of Hamer classroom

○ Spring is the mating and migration season for many of the birds that you’ve seen
so far around Shaver’s Creek. Many birds make loud displays and flash bright
feathers. Even frogs sing at night, but there are birds around Shaver’s Creek that
see much more of you than you will ever see of them. You might hear their calls,
and you may see a black silhouette gliding across the sky, but you’ll be hard
pressed to find a sleeping Pennsylvania owl.
○ There are eight species of owls that can be found in Pennsylvania, but only four
of them are common or permanent residents. Since we can’t go looking for owls
around Shaver’s Creek tonight, we’ll instead explore some of the habitats in
walking distance that they might prefer.
● Transition: silent flight activity - 5 mins
○ We’re going to be talking about four different species of owls today, but there’s
something that all four of them have in common, despite any difference in size,
diet, or nesting location.
○ Talk about silent flight: owls have special feathers that allow them to fly very
silently compared with other birds.
○ Ask students: Why would an owl need to fly more silently than any other bird?
■ “Prey detection” theory → owls need to be able to hear small rodents
without the sound of their own wingbeats impeding that hearing
■ “Stealthy hunting” hypothesis → Owls need to fly silently so that their prey
do not hear them
○ Introduce small “silent flight” activity
■ Have students leave some distance between one another. Have them
hold their arms out to their sides with fingers together; flap arms up and
down.
■ Now have students do the same thing, but with their fingers spread apart
(this is to represent the combs found in owl feathers). Which of these has
less air resistance?
 ■ When students had fingers spread apart, it allowed air to move through
the spaces. This is like the combs that owls have on the edges of their
feathers. Different owls have different spacing in the combs of their
feathers, depending on how silent they need to be to hunt. The wider the
combs, the more air that passes through - owls with wider combs fly more
silently.
● First stop: White Pine of Wisdom. I will use the Shaver’s Creek property as an
example of Eastern Screech Owl habitat.
○ Pass around the Eastern Screech Owl stick and the Audubon Guide turned to the
Eastern Screech Owl plate
○ Have students try and find a robin using binoculars. This is about the size of an
Eastern Screech Owl
○ Talk about nesting habitat: Eastern Screech owls aren’t as picky about their
nesting habitat as some other owls. As a result, they can be found in nearly any
forested area in the Eastern half of the U.S., including suburbs, fields, forests,
parks, and backyards. They will nest in well-placed nest boxes.
● They prefer to nest in small tree cavities. Their mottled coloration helps them blend in
almost perfectly with a tree trunk.
○ Question for students: why might an Eastern Screech Owl want to camouflage
itself during the daytime?
■ Eastern Screech Owls and their nestlings are quite small. They therefore
fall prey to larger owls, hawks, blue jays, raccoons, and other predatory
animals. Hiding is a survival mechanism as well as a way to protect their
nest.
○ Screech owls are also predatory. They hunt shrew and voles.
■ Are shrew and voles found at Shaver’s Creek? (Yes!)
○ These owls do not screech. They have a distinctive whinny and trill call, which
you’ve likely heard before
■ Play or demonstrate call
● Transition:
○ Next, we’re going to explore the habitat of one of the Eastern Screech Owl’s
predators...He’s a little more picky with his nest site.
● Second Stop: Barred Owl. Junction with the Boardwalk Trail and the Lake Trail. 3
mins to walk
○ Pass around the Barred Owl stick and the Audubon Guide turned to the Barred
Owl plate
○ Barred owls are much larger than Eastern Screech Owls, but unlike Screech
owls, they are occasionally heard in the daytime.
○ Barred Owls like to live near swamps and streams with a preference for mature
forests
■ Question for students: Why might Barred Owls prefer mature forests over
young forests? Why might they prefer swamps or water bodies?
 ● Barred Owls have a wide-ranging diet. They will eat many small
mammals and will wade in shallow water to catch crayfish and
frogs
● Mature forest provides the type of trees that these owls prefer for
nesting habitat. Have students look around and see if they can
find any trees that would be good for barred owl nesting
○ Imitate or play who-cooks-for-you call
● Transition:
○ Now we’re going to visit Pennsylvania’s smallest owl, which could likely fit in your
pocket...While we’re walking, see if you can spot any good nesting cavities for an
Eastern Screech Owl.

● Third Stop: Northern Saw Whet Owl. Left down the Lake Trail
○ Pass around the Northern Saw Whet Owl stick and the Audubon Guide turned to
the Northern Saw Whet plate
○ Question for students: Have you ever heard a Northern Saw Whet Owl? If yes,
what does it sound like?
■ Have you ever seen a Northern Saw Whet Owl in the wild? (probably not)
● These owls are much more commonly heard than they are seen
○ They prefer dense forest and vegetation.
■ Question for students: Why would Northern Saw Whet Owls prefer dense
vegetation?
● To hide from predators! They are the smallest owl in
Pennsylvania, making them quite prone to a number of predators.
They do not have the same mottled feather pattern that allows
Eastern Screech Owls to blend in with tree bark...so they hide!
○ They are one of few owls in Pennsylvania that migrate, heading south for the
winter - though some do stay
○ Mostly heard in Pennsylvania from March through May
■ Play/demonstrate call
● Transition: For our final stop, we’re going to meet an owl that preys on all three of our
previous owls, and is the largest owl species found in Pennsylvania...
● Fourth Stop: Great Horned Owl. Back to the White Pine of Wisdom. 3-5 min walk
○ Pass around the Great Horned Owl stick and Audubon guide turned to Great
Horned Owl plate
○ The Great Horned Owl is the largest owl in Pennsylvania. It has a ginormous
range, found across the United States and throughout much of South America
○ Its nickname is “tiger of the sky” because of its fierce predatory abilities
■ Question for students: How might this owl’s predatory success and its
wide range be connected?
● Because Great Horned Owls hunt and eat such a wide variety of
prey, they are at home in many different environments
■ Students: name an animal, and I’ll tell you whether it’s food for a Great
Horned Owl
 ■ As previously mentioned, the Great Horned Owl will prey upon all three of
the previous owls that we met today
○ Why did we come back to the White Pine of Wisdom?
■ Great Horned owls, like Eastern Screech Owls, are not terribly picky
about their nesting habitat. They require some cover in the breeding
season, but will otherwise live in open spaces, suburbs, cities, forests,
swamps, and deserts.
○ They are a top predator. They prey on many other species, but have no predator
in the wild.
○ Crows will mob this owl because it is a threat to them. This is one way to locate a
Great Horned Owl - a murder of crows making a ruckus somewhere may have
found one roosting.
○ Play/imitate Great Horned Owl call
● Conclusion:
○ Go around the group: Tell me one thing you learned about Pennsylvania owls
today
○ If you could be any of the four owls, which would it be and why? Call on a few
○ Next time you’re walking home late at night or early in the morning, keep an ear
open for a whinny or a trill, or a deep-throated hoot. And remember - in a mature
Pennsylvania forest, you’re never truly alone.
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