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Title details for What an Owl Knows by Jennifer Ackerman - Wait list

What an Owl Knows

The New Science of the World's Most Enigmatic Birds

by Jennifer Ackerman
Jennifer Ackerman
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An instant New York Times bestseller!
A New York Times Notable Book of 2023
Named a Best Book of 2023 by Publishers Weekly
From the author of The Genius of Birds and The Bird Way, a brilliant scientific investigation into owls—the most elusive of birds—and why they exert such a hold on human imagination
With their forward gaze and quiet flight, owls are often a symbol of wisdom, knowledge, and foresight. But what does an owl really know? And what do we really know about owls? Some two hundred sixty species of owls exist today, and they reside on every continent except Antarctica, but they are far more difficult to find and study than other birds because they are cryptic, camouflaged, and mostly active at night. Though human fascination with owls goes back centuries, scientists have only recently begun to understand the complex nature of these extraordinary birds.
 
In What an Owl Knows, Jennifer Ackerman joins scientists in the field and explores how researchers are using modern technology and tools to learn how owls communicate, hunt, court, mate, raise their young, and move about from season to season. Ackerman brings this research alive with her own personal field observations; the result is an awe-inspiring exploration of owls across the globe and through human history, and a spellbinding account of the world’s most enigmatic group of birds.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    June 13, 2023

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780593681527
      • File size: 265973 KB
      • Duration: 09:14:06

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from April 10, 2023
      In this masterful survey, nature writer Ackerman (The Bird Way) explores the physiology and behavior of owls. She provides an overview of owls’ intelligence, evolution, mating strategies, nest-building abilities, and communication skills, relating how variations in owl calls allow the birds to express “their needs and desires” and convey “highly specific information about their individual identity, and their sex, size, weight, and state of mind.” Describing academic studies that illuminate the surprising social complexity of the nocturnal predators, Ackerman writes that nestling barn owls will altruistically share food with weaker siblings, and that screech owls sometimes engage in cannibalism, killing and eating fellow fledglings. The author highlights the heterogeneity of owl species, noting that they’re found on every continent but Antarctica and that while the Eurasian eagle owl is big enough to prey on baby deer, the tiny elf owl is only “about the size of a small pine cone.” There’s fascinating trivia on every page (owls perform “sophisticated mathematical computations” to pinpoint prey by sound, and some owl attacks on humans may be attempts to play), making for a revelatory glimpse into the lives of the “enigmatic” raptors. Bird lovers will be enthralled. Photos.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Jennifer Ackerman is clearly enthralled with owls. Every word--written and spoken--embodies her fascination. She takes us on a wide-ranging exploration of their world, the researchers who study them, and even their symbolism. Owl species vary in so many ways: in size, food sources, geography, migration, calls, and just about everything else. Ackerman ensures that the listener is captivated by all of them with her engaging performance suffused with enthusiasm and wonder. Owls are difficult to study--hard to spot, silent on the wing, and fiercely defensive. One researcher was hit so hard in the head after getting too close that the owl's talon broke off in his scalp. Owls are in trouble, and Ackerman's graceful plea for action and protection is clear. A.B. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
    • Library Journal

      September 1, 2023

      In science writer Ackerman's latest birding deep dive, after The Bird Way, she shares the nuances of all things owl. Through her exploration of this worldwide parliament and spending time with owl researchers and their projects, Ackerman relates anecdotes derived from research findings, as well as special-interest stories. A variety of breeds including the great gray owl, snowy owl, burrowing owl, and barred owl, to name a few, are featured in discussions of owl breeding, communication, nesting habits, migratory tendencies, intelligence, and adaptability. Additionally, there's an intriguing chapter on how owls are viewed in international cultures, favorably and otherwise. Ackerman concludes with a few tips on how to better share the planet with these majestic birds so they can thrive and so humans may continue to enjoy them for years to come. Keenly narrated by the author, who has a talent for mimicking owl vocalizations, thereby enabling listeners to better identify owl calls in the wild. VERDICT Admirers of Ackerman's previous birding books and fans of our feathered friends will relish this foray into the secretive lives of owls. This is an easy listen that gains strength as it progresses, without technical jargon bogging it down.--Kym Goering

      Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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