5 Activities for Kids Who Love Bugs, Birds and Other Critters
![View of barred owl sitting on a tree branch with moss and lichen](/sites/default/files/styles/1180x660_scaled_cropped/public/2023-02/Barred%20owl%20Pixabay%20credit%20Ken%20McMillan.jpg?itok=MlVfwvKV)
Photo:
Barred owl. Credit: Ken McMillan/Pixabay
Go on an owl prowl, then dissect owl pellets
Washington Park Arboretum is home to the barred owl, with sightings typically starting in spring, according to eBird, a tracking website used by birders.
Take a self-guided walk and look for traces of owls living within the park. You may even catch a glimpse of one, as barred owls are more active during the day than other owls. Owl pellets contain bones and fur from hunts, providing a cool, if kind of gross, glimpse into the life of an owl.
We’re not recommending touching or taking home your discoveries (if you find any). Instead, purchase an owl pellet dissection kit to explore these fascinating objects under sterilized conditions.
Up next: Build a worm bin