Muggle Animals Lesson 8

[Kath Blackthorn]

Kath arrived at the Owlery in time to set up the room for the lesson. It didn’t take too much preparation other than sorting out the owls. Kath had laid out a blanket so that if anyone coming in from the portkey stumbled and landed with a bump they wouldn’t land in a pile of owl poo. As each student arrived Kath handed them a piece of paper that contained some notes on owls that would perhaps be useful for the final. Today’s lesson would be practical so they wouldn’t be needing the notes at this time but hopefully they wouldn’t just chuck them somewhere and forget about them.

There are about 162 different species of owl living in many different habitats around the world. Owls have large eyes that face forwards (unlike other birds whose eyes are on the sides of their head). They have binocular vision and very precise depth perception. Owls cannot move their eyes like we can so in order to look around they have to move their entire head. Many people believe their heads can turn a total 360° but in fact their range of movement is about 270°. Owls are carnivores and will often hunt at different times of the day. Some are nocturnal (hunt at night) crepuscular (dawn and dusk) and diurnal (during the day). They have a great sense of hearing that helps their amazing eyesight when hunting. Owls hunt and eat rodents, insects, frogs, and birds.

”As you can see over here on these perches are some owls. Barn, Screech, Tawny, Rock Eagle and Snowy” Kath pointed to each corresponding owl as she stated its name. "I named only five owls but there are two of each owl around so there will be enough for you all. Id each like you to choose an owl because were are going to fly it” In real life it would be very hard with other owls in the room but for the sakes of roleplay we will forget about that. ”Taking a gauntlet glove I would like you to stand half way between the owl and the perch opposite your owl. Holding your arm out gently hold the chick in between your thumb and index finger” Kath said as she demonstrated exactly what she meant to each of the students using one of the barn owls.

”As you saw the owl will swoop past grabbing the chick from your glove and will then fly to the other perch to eat it. After doing this at least twice you are welcome to go back to the castle by touching the hat portkey that is located over by the door." With that Kath handed each of the students a glove and two chicks. Hopefully none of the students were squeamish about the chicks honestly she could have easily given them something more gruesome to feed.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
Choose an owl from the ones that I listed. Holding your arm out position your hand so that the thumb is on top and the little finger on the bottom. Very gently hold a chick in between your thumb and index finger. The owl will swoop over and grab the chick and take it to the other perch to eat it. I would like you to roleplay your character doing this twice. Any questions feel free to ask, your best bet is probably by PM but of course I will be watching over this thread.

[Onikah Dawn]

Jumping up and down Onikah raised her hand and asked for a barn owl. Smilling as her own owl was indeed a barn owl she watched him sit on her gloved hands. Theface of barn owls is what caused her to choose a barn owl this year. The heart shaped face, the silence with which they flew and there temprament.

tossing her hand up slightly the owl took off towards her perch as Onikah placed a chick in her hand. She had actually never really fed her owl like this as was frightened some. holding the chick up she covered her face and peked out from her arm.

Silently the barn own flew over and soundlessly took the food. and was gone before she even realizeed it had happened.

The second time she wanted to see it, So watching she repeated the action and was amazed as she watched the owl again silently take off pull the chick from her hand and return to pearch. As she contenued watching the owl just tore apart and ate the helpless creature.