Owls: The Silent Flyers

Rating:
Summary: Silent death...
Review: ...for rats, mice, possum and other small nocturnal animals. Delivered by the talons of one of the 19 species of North American owls described, and beautifully photographed in OWLS: THE SILENT FLYERS. The history of owl's relationship with man is mixed. Due to their nightly stealth and effectiveness as hunters many cultures have imbued them with special powers. As such they have oftentimes been persecuted as harbingers of death. Yet man also treasures these magnificent birds and in many places they are symbols of wisdom and good fortune.

All this and much more is mentioned by the author as he tells of his personal experiences with many of the species through rehabilitating orphaned and injured birds. Diversity abounds. There are large species such as the Great Horned Owl and the Great Gray Owl and the tiny ones - Pygmy and Elf Owls. Ground dwellers such as the Burrowing Owl can be contrasted with northern-forest dwellers. Some have adapted to man made environments (the Barn Owl) while others are restricted to the remote artic wilderness (the Snowy Owl)

Each chapter covers a different species or group of owls and each description is supplemented with a map showing range and useful information such as the birds measurements, description of its eggs, nesting and breeding behavior, their diet and lastly, but by no means least - owl-watching tips for birders. This is however not a field guide. For one thing, it's too large. It is a good general introduction to North American owls highlighted with 70 full color photos and written by someone who obviously appreciates these unique birds. It also remains one of the better books available on the subject.

Rating:
Summary: Owls: The Silent Flyers
Review: The beautiful photographs combined with Lawrence's anecdotal writing style make this an entertaining and informative book.