Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl in WACKY READING CHALLENGES

Oct 17, 2016 Li'l Owl rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: owl-s-books-own, wildlife-zoology, stand-alone, non-fiction, nature, owl-s-nook-own

If there ever was a book for owl lovers this is it! It's a truly endearing and educating book. Stacy O'Brien, a biology research student specializing in wild animal behavior, has an opportunity to hand raise a baby barn owl. Wesley was born with nerve damage in one wing, making it impossible for him to survive in the wild. This is not something that she takes lightly as the baby, only four days old, will imprint on her and be 100% dependant on her for everything, 24/7, for his entire life.
There If there ever was a book for owl lovers this is it! It's a truly endearing and educating book. Stacy O'Brien, a biology research student specializing in wild animal behavior, has an opportunity to hand raise a baby barn owl. Wesley was born with nerve damage in one wing, making it impossible for him to survive in the wild. This is not something that she takes lightly as the baby, only four days old, will imprint on her and be 100% dependant on her for everything, 24/7, for his entire life.
There were so many fascinating scientific facts about barn owls that were really astonishing to me! Here's one of my favorites that I didn't know. Stacy explains
Like all barn owls, the baby smelled like maple syrup but not as sweet, something closer to butterscotch and comfy pillow all in one. Many biologists at Caltech, where I both worked and took classes, would bury their faces in there owls necks to breathe in their delicate, sweet smell. It was intoxicating.

Being the owl lover that I am, there are many reasons why they are my favorite. Like this one.
Stacy writes about one amazing fact about owls that sets them apart.
Owls ears are irregularly placed, one high one low on the head to triangulate sounds and a heart shaped, satalite dish face which turns sounds to pictures in it's brain. These traits allow owls to home in on the heartbeat of mice even under three feet of snow. This is an astonishing feature that shows just how capable nature is in providing exactly what owls need to hunt mice in any weather conditions. It's extremely important to their survival as mice are the only food owls eat. How does an owl catch mice under three feet of snow? Watch this video and be prepared to be amazed!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yps7pgq...

Another trait that I love about owls is that
they are playful, inquisitive, and creative. Stacy gives readers one example of just how creative they can be as they often make up their own games. One owl at the research facility was found playing a game that he had invented. He was found "Throwing a pencil off the desk himself, twisting in the air to get a good angle, then pouncing on the pencil.

In addition to all the science, research, and behavioral information Stacy writes about she also gives us an ongoing look at just how complicated her life became from the first day she agreed to raise Wesley. Like how he had to learn to walk instead of fly due to his damaged wing. It's quite humorous and entertaining, even a little sad. Life raising an owl is risky business as they are very fragile and sensitive creatures. It takes exceptional capabilities and uttermost care for an owl to survive in captivity which I could appreciate even more than ever through Stacy's experiences as she raises Wesley.

Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl by Stacey O'Brien was both educating and engaging but it also brought out an entire myriad of thoughts and emotions for me that I wasn't expecting. All in a good way.
Stacy gives readers a wealth of information through the eyes of a biologist in an enlightening setting which keeps the science from being dry or boring. As a specialist in animal behavior, Stacy shows us a view of life from an owls perspective, or at least as much as we as humans could ever understand how an owl views the world.
If you like owls you'll enjoy this book. ...more

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Feb 22, 2022 Catsalive rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2022

An absolutely delightful memoir about the author's life with her beloved barn owl tempered, of course, with the bittersweet ending that is the lot of any animal-lover. Very informative, too, without being dull. I found it all quite fascinating.
https://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/... ...more

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