[birdky] Request for owl pellets

Hi all, I am teaching a final-year ornithology class (Bio559) here at UK and 
have an open lab on March 23rd. I would like to have the students dissect owl 
pellets as I think they would really enjoy it. They could identify any skulls 
present, at least to genus, and relate this to the species of owl that likely 
produced the pellet as well as habitat type. Kentucky is a great state for this 
as there are several species of resident owls of different sizes and therefore 
different diets (and also diurnal birds of prey of course, which can also 
produce pellets). Hence, I was wondering if anyone knew of any regular owl 
roosts around the state that may have pellets? As I understand it, the owls 
don't cough up pellets below their nest site, so that sort of disturbance isn't 
a problem. They usually cough them up in places where they roost, such as barns 
or abandoned buildings. Shawchyi Vorisek kindly informs me that permits are not 
necessary for collecting pellets, and adds that the KY Department of Fish and 
Wildlife would be interested in what we find, especially if the pellets are 
collected from one of the state Wildlife Management Areas. I would happily 
share the results with the list too. If anyone knows of any places that would 
be good for pellets please let me know.  Thanks a lot!!IanIan Stewart 
Department of Biology University of Kentucky Lexington KY 40506-0225 (859) 
323-9499 itsacharliebrownchristmas@xxxxxxxxxxx
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