The Owl Handbook: Investigating the Lives, Habits, and Importance of These Enigmatic Birds by John Shewey

Charismatic, intriguing, and misunderstood: The Owl Handbook provides a beautifully photographed, thoughtfully researched, and accessible guide to these complex, captivating creatures.

Spot an owl that's long been watching your every move and darker aspects of its reputation may spring to mind: harbinger of doom, guides through the spirit world, merciless bird of prey. Mythology and superstitions have projected our fear of the unknown onto these mostly night-dwelling creatures. But these wondrous birds are so much more than shadows or silent glides through the night. In The Owl Handbook, lifelong birding enthusiast John Shewey leads us through an exploration of owls' cultural impact as seen in folklore and mythology, provides in-depth investigations of 19 owls of North America and a survey of 200 owls across the globe, and gives advice on how to respectfully observe and protect these enigmatic birds, brought to life by hundreds of full-color photographs.

Review Quotes:
" The Owl Handbook guides readers in how to respectfully observe owls... This visually appealing and captivating introduction to owls is sure to appeal to general readers and owl enthusiasts alike."-- Booklist

"The plentiful photos and maps showing the range of each species will be a boon to birders, as will the suggestions on how to responsibly seek out owls in the wild... a competent overview of the nocturnal predators."-- Publishers Weekly

"This book will help you know what to look for when you're out there, and give you an even greater appreciation for these always-fascinating birds." -- The Nature Conservancy

Lifelong birding enthusiast John Shewey is a veteran writer, editor, and professional outdoor photographer, with credits in Birdwatching, Portland Monthly, Northwest Travel & Life, and dozens of other magazines, and co-author of Birds of the Pacific Northwest, a Timber Press Field Guide. John has photographed birds from the mountains of Alaska to the jungles of Central America to the islands of the Caribbean, and his website chronicles many of these travels in rich photographic detail. Visit him at birdingoregon.com.

Timber Press

Pub Date: January 14, 2025

0.6" H x 8.9" L x 8.0" W

248 pages

paperback