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Gabrielle Bailey, Millstone River Elementary School

Middlesex County

Image of First Place, Middlesex County, Short-eared OwlFirst Place, Middlesex County, Short-eared Owl (c) Gabrielle Bailey

Short-eared Owl

My moth-like wings beats are silent in the chilly dusk air. I dive down and grab a vole, which is one of my favorite snack that also include mice, wood rats, rabbits, muskrats and even small birds. Being a short-eared owl, (a bird of prey), it is pretty surprising that I am endangered. It is mostly because of habitat loss. I will get back to that later. First, I want to share a bit about myself.

Short-eared Owls got our name from the little tuffs of feathers on our head. They are small and hard to see. We live everywhere, except Australia and Antarctica. Most Short-eared Owls lay 4 to 9 eggs at a time on the ground surrounded by tall grass. Average Short-eared Owls are about 13 to 17 inches long.

Like I said before, we are endangered mostly because of habitat loss. You are destroying my home. If you lost your home and your species was dying out, how would you feel? Please help my family and me stay alive! There are ways you can help because even doing small things can change my fate. You can donate to charities that will help other Short-eared Owls and me. You can also help by raising awareness about me. The environment is being destroyed by pollution. The trees are being cut down and many different types of species are dying out. But you can stop it and you can save the planet if you just work together and set small goals, (like saving me), and build your way up. Apart you are weak, but together you are strong.

Over the years, things go away and are destroyed. I will give anything for my species to not be one of those things. I really hope you will think about what I said because if you were in my talons, you would want, or should I say need, the same thing.

Written by: Gabrielle R. Bailey

Millstone River Elementary School, Plainsboro

Teachers: Dr. Sven Strnad and Dr. Vickie Gurzau