Team Intellectual Wellness: Bruckner Nature Center!

Team Assisted Care: Senior Scientists!

Brukner Nature Center's presentation this month was on Ohio's Beautiful Owls. Residents learned that owls are birds because they have feathers, wings, are warm-blooded, have hollow bones, beaks and feet. An unusual fact is that you cannot determine the sex of an owl, and that their bones weigh less than their feathers. They go to the bathroom every 20 minutes and their feet are used for catching food.

Being displayed are two common Ohio owls: the small Eastern Screech Owl and the larger Barred Owl. The Eastern Screech Owl has a sharp beak and claws called "talons" for capturing their prey. They are nocturnal predators with very large and fixed-in-socket eyes so as to see clearly in the dark. They can turn their heads 280 degrees and have 14 bones in their necks in order to be more flexible. In captivity they have an 8-10 year life span, unlike "life in the wild." Their ears cannot be seen. They have little tucks of feathers on the top of their heads to use when they seem threatened. Leg feathers keep them warm at night.

Screech Owls stay here in Ohio year-round and their mating begins in Winter. The female lays 3-5 eggs on different days so they don't all get hungry at the same time. Dad finds enough food for mom and babies. After 30 days the young ones leave the nest and are not allowed to come back. Then mom and dad live solitary lives for the rest of the year, but will find each other again next year. They have the same mates for life!

The Barred Owl is larger, but only weighs a little over a pound. It has asymmetrical hearing, large black eyes which attract moonlight so as to be able to see at night, strong feet, are solitary animals and have a 10-12 year life span. They are not to be used as pets.

And then there is the Great Horned Owl, which weighs 3 pounds and has a 6-year life span.

A group of owls is called "Parliament" even though they are not really that wise.

The time spent with our Brukner guest was time well spent and enjoyed by all.

~submitted by Sister Christine Doerger~

Team Assisted Care: Senior Scientists!

Assisted Care residents and staff enjoy Bruckner Nature Center's Senior Scientists series!

~submitted by Judy Potter~

Team Assisted Care: Senior Scientists!

On August 10th the Assisted Care and Independent residents were invited to attend a wonderful presentation by Brukner Nature Center on the topic of "Marvelous Mammals". Residents learned about moles, beavers, groundhogs, coyotes, squirrels, rabbits, deer, bobcats, black bears and possoms. Regarding the possoms, for example, residents learned that they are nocturnal and have poor eyesight, but have a good sense of smell. Their babies are the size of a jelly bean when born and they climb to their mother's pouch where they remain for about one hundred days until they are ready to be born. Possoms have more teeth, 50 to be exact, than any other mammal in North America. And sometimes they "play possom" to escape predators. Many of the animals discussed are live, and the residents have the option of feeling them. Yes, the presentations of Brukner Nature Center are always very exciting, interesting and worthwhile. ~Submitted by Sister Christine Doerger~

Team Assisted Care: Intellectual Wellness!

This was a very interesting presentation by Leanna from the Bruckner Nature Center. She shared her knowledge of the natural Food Chain from the soil to the plants to the animals and back to the soil. Leanna brought a variety of animals to share such as a possum, falcon, and salamander. ~Sister Christine Doerger