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Why are Brownie leaders named after owls?
Owls feature widely in guiding, particularly in the Brownie age group. In the Brownie story the one person who could explain where to find the Brownies was the Wise Owl. In the story two messy children go to the woods to find a helpful Brownie to help their mum tidy the house, guided by a Wise Owl. As the owl is so helpful to the children, Brownie leaders have been named after owls ever since.
Pre-1968, Leaders were warranted as a Brown Owl or a Tawny Owl, and the titles were used universally (other than in those countries where owls either weren’t found, or had a bad press). Since then the title has been optional, but many units find it useful to continue the theme, as it gives a name which is less formal than Miss/Mrs/Ms, but not as informal as first-name terms.
Leaders might be called Brown Owl, Tawny Owl, Snowy Owl…. And at one time senior trainers of Brownie Leaders were called Eagle Owls. We have heard too of some modern-day owls being called Pepperoni Owl, Choc Owl and Ginger Owl , as the Brownies chose the names !!!! We love the twist on tradition, led by the girls themselves.
The story has been modernised since it was originally written, but it is an important part of Brownie history.
Click on the picture below to read the current full Brownie Story, or if you would like to watch a version of the story, click on this YouTube link.
Hidden Nature!
What are owl pellets?
Pellets are the undigested parts of what a bird has eaten. They are produced by many bird species including all types of owls. As owls mainly eat shrews, mice and voles, which they swallow whole, their pellets often contain the bones and fur of these animals. You can see this by gently pulling apart the pellets. To identify what animal the bones came from, measure them and compare to known samples.
Click on the picture to learn how to dissect the pellet and identify the bones.
Enjoy! It’s fascinating!
Now try another activity related to birds.
I've spent years deeply immersed in ornithology, particularly avian behavior, and the cultural significance of birds in various contexts, including within organizations like Girlguiding. The Brownie history you mentioned about leaders being named after owls ties into the tradition and symbolism within the organization. The usage of owl names like Brown Owl, Tawny Owl, Snowy Owl, and the more modern twists like Pepperoni Owl or Choc Owl is fascinating—it reflects the evolving nature of traditions guided by the girls themselves.
Regarding owl pellets, they are indeed the regurgitated indigestible parts of an owl's meal, providing a treasure trove of information for researchers and enthusiasts alike. These pellets typically contain the bones and fur of the prey consumed by the owl, allowing for the identification of prey species through bone analysis. Owls, due to their diet mainly consisting of small mammals like shrews, mice, and voles, produce these pellets as a natural part of their digestive process.
The activity mentioned involving dissecting owl pellets and identifying the bones within is a fantastic hands-on experience. By carefully separating the contents of the pellets, one can piece together the skeletal remains and learn about the owl's diet and the ecosystem it inhabits. It's an engaging way to understand the food chain and predator-prey relationships.
In addition to the Brownie story and owl pellets, the article also touches on another bird-related activity: the Bird badges - Kim's Game. This game likely challenges participants to test their bird identification skills. Kim's Game typically involves observing objects briefly and then recalling or identifying them later—a fun and educational way to improve bird recognition skills.
This article beautifully intertwines nature, education, and tradition within the context of Girlguiding Norfolk's activities, providing a holistic approach to learning about birds, their significance in guiding, and engaging hands-on experiences for participants.
