Why survey owl pellets?
Owls are highly efficient birds of prey, and for the barn owl in particular, small mammals provide a large part of their diet. The owl can digest the soft tissues of the prey but not the bones, teeth, claws or fur. These indigestible remains are formed into pellets and ejected through the beak. These prey remains can be identified, and form a valuable source of information about the diets of owls and, indirectly, about estimates of and changes in small mammal populations.
