Description
Book SynopsisDelve into the lives of owls with this collection of photographs and information by award-winning author and wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela.
They are silent and beautiful. They symbolize knowledge and mystery. Owls are among the most popular and beloved animals in the world. Yet most are nocturnal, so an owl sighting is a remarkable event, one worthy of remembering and sharing with others. Award-winning author, naturalist, and wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela believes that owls are intriguing birds. He spent more than 20 years traveling across the country to observe and photograph the various species, from the Great Horned Owl to the extremely uncommon Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl. He documented every aspect of the owl’s life: major events such as courtship and mating, as well as everyday activities like hunting and sleeping.
The result is a striking portrayal of these amazing raptors in Owls. Stan’s extraordinary photographs depict the birds of prey in a new, unique fashion. His fascinating text is drawn from detailed research and personal observations. Presented with headings and short paragraphs, the coffee-table book is pleasurable to browse and easy to read.
“They are strikingly beautiful creatures and incredible hunters,” says Stan. “Owls are among my favorite birds to study and to photograph.”
Unmatched by any other book on the market, Owls is a must-have for bird watchers, wildlife enthusiasts, and nature lovers.
Table of ContentsIntriguing owls
The owl family
Species diversity
Owls from coast to coast
Origins of the species
Life span
Unique design
The facial disk
Body in camouflage
Toes and talons
Heavyweight eyes
24-hour sight
Acute eye power
Built-in protection
Low-light vision
Binocular viewing
Red-eye reduction
Head rotation
Head bobbing
Bills in bristles
The bite
Horns and ears
Split-second hearing
Where is that sound?
Ear flaps
Facial disk designs
Disk feathers
Facial expressions
Owl size
Differences of the sexes
Slimming to trim
Silent flight
Equipped to conceal
Striking a pose
Color collections
Fancy footwork
Talons in force
Sole scales
Feather boots to bare feet
Palate appeal
Diet variety
Hunting instincts
A friend of the farmer
Table manners
Diminished sense of smell
Digestible matter
Pellets
Nesting fancies
Cavity nests
Stick nests
Ground nests
Nest edifices
Reusing the nest
Owl vocalization
Family calls
Night calls
Pair calls and duets
Bill clacking
Establishing a territory
Courtship
Mating
Egg laying
The clutch
Nonstop incubation
Hatching order
Incubation across the species
Life in the nest
Growing up quickly
Sharing in the bounty
Demand for food
Owlet development
Flight practice
Branching
Gliding and grounding
Learning to hunt
No free lunch
Leaving the natal territory
To migrate or not
The irruption years
Winter advantage
Owls—exceptional birds
Featured owls
Helpful resources
About the author
