Posted: 2/27/07
All about owls
Festival of Owls
is March 2-4
in Houston
By Andrew Miller
Interim News Editor
There will be hooting galore in Houston this weekend.
The Festival of Owls, a fundraiser for the Houston Nature Center, features three days chock full of owl-themed fun starting Friday.
The events range from the scholarly to the purely social ó thereís a lecture on the breeding habits of owls, for example, as well as a good, old-fashioned pancake breakfast hosted by Cross of Christ Lutheran Church.
Of special interest to kids will be the owl pellet dissection at 9 a.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the biology room at Houston High School. Pellets are $5 and pre-registration is required.
Pellet dissection will be lead by ornithology expert Laura Erickson, whoís the producer of the radio show, "For the Birds."
"Not only will you get to dissect an owl pellet with guidance, youíll find out more than you ever wanted to know about how the owl digestive system works and the gory details of how those pellets are made," Houston Nature Center Director Karla Kinstler said.
Wildlife author Carrol Henderson will present a program on tropical owls at 11 a.m. Sunday at the high school. The lecture will be catered by Rosie Buege, owner of the German restaurant in Houston. Cost is $20 per person.
Also at 11 a.m. Sunday at the high school, forester Jon Sobiech will be teaching a class on forestry and what kids can do to help the environment. Sobiech is an enthusiastic presenter, Kinstler said, so the class is sure to be fun for kids of all ages. The class includes a meal of owl-shaped pizza and an appearance by Woodsy Owl. Cost for the pizza party/class is $5.
On Sunday, the Houston Nature Centerís own Alice the Owl will be heading for the skies ó but will have the assistance of modern aviation technology. Alice will be making her first airplane flight at 2 p.m. over Houston.
For a full listing of the weekendís events, visit www.houstonmn.com/owlfest.htm. Most of the activities are at Houston High School and the Houston Community Center, but be sure to check the Web site schedule for times and locations.
Pre-registration is required for many of the activities, and registration forms are available on the Web site. For more information contact the Houston Nature Center at (507) 896-4668.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com