Excerpt
Owls have long held a special place in our imaginations. They are perhaps the most recognizable of all birds, with their forward-facing, intensely expressive eyes giving them an almost human appearance. However, while we can all instantly identify the image of an owl, few of us have seen many of them in the wild, because owls lead mysterious lives. Most spend their active hours in the double darkness of deep forest at nighttime, and if it werent for their haunting cries we might never know they were there.
With their mysterious, almost spooky ways, it is little wonder that owls are associated with magic and menace in a range of cultures around the world. In folk tales, they are the familiars of witches, their appearance foretells death and disaster, and they have wisdom beyond all other creatures. These ideas have certainly influenced the way that people have treated owls over the years, sometimes with reverence and sometimes with total intolerance - in some cultures the killing of owls is much encouraged.
The reality of owl life is no less intriguing. They are perfectly adapted to hunt their prey in near darkness. Their plumage often bears gorgeously complex and intricate patterning, allowing them to blend in with the bark and branches of trees as they sleep through the daylight hours. Many owls forge lifelong partnerships with their mates - affirmed with hours of tender closeness, sharing a branch and affectionately preening each others plumage. However, when the territory needs to be defended, they become a devastating attack force, capable of driving off all challengers.
Owls may not be quite as all-knowing as legend would have us believe, but they are intelligent birds, and have long been popular with falconers and bird keepers as they are usually easy to train and often very affectionate. Sanctuaries for owls, whether for wild birds that needed to be rescued, or birds born and raised in captivity, allow us to observe them at close quarters and truly appreciate their extraordinary beauty. This book features stunning photographs taken at such sanctuaries, which will introduce you to some of the most beautiful and enigmatic birds in the world.