I started birding during my college days in the early 70's in Kansas. I think owl balls is a perfectly acceptable term. I understand it better than owl pellets which I assume to be from the colon, going back to my college days in examining coyote pellets. All of my Minnesota in-laws were surprised to know that the democratic party is not referred to as the DFL in most other states. And a parking garage will always be a parking garage to me and to most of the rest of the country and not a "ramp". But when in Rome....Your response to this phenomenon was very tactful and well put. Obviously you do better than I at this. Thanks for your report, I found it very interesting.
----- Original Message ----- From: Thomas Maiello <[email protected]> Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2008 8:09 Subject: [mou] Correction on owl balls To: mnbird to submit messages <mnbird at lists.mnbird.net>, mou-net at moumn.org > Well, we are certainly an open, sharing and communicating internet > > family, aren't we. My goodness. > > After sufficient feedback on my use of the term "owl ball" which > is > what the Oklahoma University community at least one time called > them > back in the 70's, I absorbed the prolific information I received > from > feedback responses and did a little research to look into what > exactly > is that thing that owl's up-chuck is called. I won't go into all > the > details of what it is and why, and when and all the research done > on > them, where to acquire them for instructional purposes, etc., > etc., > etc.. And I might add there is a lot out there on those subjects. > > Let me get to my point. > > It appears that there are a number of terms to describe the furry > or > feathery mass that owl's up-chuck (please allow me the use of this > > term rather than"regurgitation" as I am attempting to be "light"). > > The term - Most common by far is "owl pellet". Never, I repeat, > never, are they called "owl balls". Never - except in Oklahoma in > the > 70's - but that is another story altogether. Some respondents > offered > "castings" - an accurate and acceptable term but would likely not > land > the direct punch of "owl pellet" to the birding, scientific, or > retail > communities - at least the internet ones. The term "bezoar" was > by > far the most interesting offering and my research indicates that > this > term more commonly applies to material that remains in the > digestive > tract rather than being rendered to ground. Still, I think if > that is > what everyone in your area knows the "pellets" as, it works for me > and > apparently for you - plus it is definitely "local color" which > paints > the uniqueness of our worlds. > > From all of this I am again amazed at the awkwardness of the > American > form of the English language. My recent marriage and frequent > communications with my step-15 and 18 year old daughters and wife > have > shown me that if the goal is communication, surrendering to > exacting > terms and language is best served to simply allow the other to get > > your point. What one calls a tree another can call a conifer or a > > plant or a fir or a trunk - especially in the context of what > caused > the crumpled fender and hood to my borrowed car. Context is vital > in > effective communication. > > To put a majority of the respondents to my posting at ease and > expressing my appreciation and gratitude to your loving feedback, > allow me to rephrase my self: "My friendly neighborhood Barred Owl > > dropped an owl pellet yesterday." > > Another learning opportunity. Note to self. And thank you for > the > lessons. > > I love this community! > > Thomas Maiello > Angel Environmental Management, Inc. > Maple Grove, MN > > > > > > --- > This mailing list is sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' > Union. Mailing list membership available on-line at > http://moumn.org/subscribe.html.----- > To unsubscribe send a blank email to mou-net-request at moumn.org > with a subject of unsubscribe. >
