The Hidden Lives of Owls

Book excerpt: “You’ll come away from this riveting book blessed with owl wisdom that will enlarge your world forever.” —Sy Montgomery, author of Birdology and The Soul of an Octopus In this New York Times bestseller, Leigh Calvez explores the night forest to uncover the secret lives of owls in this illuminating book for birders, animal lovers, and readers of H is for Hawk. Join a naturalist on her adventures into the world of owls, owl-watching, avian science, and the deep forest—often in the dead of night. Whether you’re tracking snowy or great horned owls, these birds are a bit mysterious, and that’s part of what makes them so fascinating. In The Hidden Lives of Owls, Leigh Calvez pursues 11 different owl species—including the Barred, Flammulated, Northern Saw-Whet, Northern Pygmy, Northern Spotted, Burrowing, Snowy, and Great Gray. In an entertaining and accessible style, Calvez relays the details of her avian studies, from the thuggish behavior of barred owls—which puts the spotted owl at risk—to the highly unusual appearance of arctic snowy owls in the Lower 48, which directly reflects the state of the vole population in the Arctic. As Calvez takes readers into the lives of these strange and majestic creatures, she also explores questions about the human-animal connection, owl obsession, habitat, owl calls, social behavior, and mythology. Hoot!