Barn Owl Investigation
By Alex BJ Period 6 code 2
Introduction
A few types of owls
Barn Owl Barred owl Burrowing owl Eagle owl
Elf owl Great horned owl Great grey owl
Common Barn Owl prey types
Vole Pocket Gopher Mouse Shrew
Rat Songbird Mole Bat
Comparative question
More birds are eaten by barn owls in the southern U.S.A.
Are more birds eaten by Barn Owls in the northern United States, or in the southern United States?
Prediction
Procedure
Pocket Gopher (skeleton)
Pocket Gopher (living)
Data tables (6th period)
Animal Vole Pocket gopher
mouse Shrew Rat Bird Mole Total
# found 49 10 2 1 0 1 0 63
percent 77.8% 15.9% 3.2% 1.6% 0% 1.6% 0% 100%
Types of prey animals found in Owl pellets
Number of Prey Animals Per Pellet
Prey Animals per pellet
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 and over
Total # of pellets in class
Total # of prey animals in class
# of pellets
1 8 5 4 3 0 0 0 21 63
Percent 4.7% 38.1% 23.8% 19% 14.3% 0% 0% 0% 100% 100%
Data tables (whole grade)
Animal Vole Pocket gopher
mouse Shrew Rat Bird Mole Total
# found 260 27 37 4 0 3 0 294
percent 77.8% 15.9% 3.2% 1.6% 0% % 0% 100%
Types of prey animals found in Owl pellets
Number of Prey Animals Per Pellet
Prey Animals per pellet
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 and over
Total # of pellets in class
Total # of prey animals in class
# of pellets
8 30 32 20 11 4 0 1 106 294
Percent 7.5% 28.3%
30.2% 18.8% 10.4% 3.8% 0% .9% 100% 100%
Data table (whole grade extended)
Average # of prey animals per pellet (mean)
Type of prey animals contained by most pellets (mode for grade type of animals in owl pellet)
Number of prey animals contained by most pellets (mode for grade # of prey animals per pellet)
Lowest to highest # in one pellet (range)
2.72 0 None 7
Graphs for grade
Comparative question Graph and Data table
# of birds eaten in Northern United states by Barn owls (average)
# of birds eaten in Southern United states by Barn owls (average)
11 11.5
Discussion
Conclusion