Synopses & Reviews
On Valentine's Day 1985, biologist Stacey O'Brien first met a four-day-old baby barn owl -- a fateful encounter that would turn into an astonishing 19-year saga. With nerve damage in one wing, the owlet's ability to fly was forever compromised, and he had no hope of surviving on his own in the wild. O'Brien, a young assistant in the owl laboratory at Caltech, was immediately smitten, promising to care for the helpless owlet and give him a permanent home. Wesley the Owl is the funny, poignant story of their dramatic two decades together.
With both a tender heart and a scientist's eye, O'Brien studied Wesley's strange habits intensively and first-hand -- and provided a mice-only diet that required her to buy the rodents in bulk (28,000 over the owl's lifetime). As Wesley grew, she snapped photos of him at every stage like any proud parent, recording his life from a helpless ball of fuzz to a playful, clumsy adolescent to a gorgeous, gold-and-white, macho adult owl with a heart-shaped face and an outsize personality that belied his 18-inch stature. Stacey and Wesley's bond deepened as she discovered Wesley's individual personality, subtle emotions, and playful nature that could also turn fiercely loyal and protective -- though she could have done without Wesley's driving away her would-be human suitors!
O'Brien also brings us inside the prestigious research community, a kind of scientific Hogwarts where resident owls sometimes flew freely from office to office and eccentric, brilliant scientists were extraordinarily committed to studying and helping animals; all of them were changed by the animal they loved. As O'Brien gets close to Wesley, she makes important discoveries about owl behavior, intelligence, and communication, coining the term "The Way of the Owl" to describe his inclinations: he did not tolerate lies, held her to her promises, and provided unconditional love, though he was not beyond an occasional sulk. When O'Brien develops her own life-threatening illness, the biologist who saved the life of a helpless baby bird is herself rescued from death by the insistent love and courage of this wild animal.
Enhanced by wonderful photos, Wesley the Owl is a thoroughly engaging, heartwarming, often funny story of a complex, emotional, non-human being capable of reason, play, and, most important, love and loyalty. It is sure to be cherished by animal lovers everywhere.
Review
"This fun book reminded me of MarleyandMe, but with wings. Warm, weird, and wonderful, Wesley the Owl is proof that man's best friend sometimes has feathers." -- Mark Obmascik, author of The Big Year
Review
"I love Wesley the Owl! Not since Konrad Lorenz have I read such an honest, vivid, and revealing account of the rich and complex life of an individual bird. Stacey O'Brien has captured the essence of the soul of an unforgettable owl. Affectionate, quirky, joyous, and wise, Wesley shows us the Way of the Owl -- the way to God and grace. This book is destined to become a classic, and will deepen importantly the way we understand birds." -- Sy Montgomery, author of The Good Good Pig
Review
"Wesley will make you wonder if owls are not at least as wise as humans and as capable of compassion. Wesley the Owl will stretch your notions about the limits of interspecies communication and love. It will entertain, delight and, finally, cause you to weep. Guaranteed."-- Sam Keen, author of Sightings: Extraordinary Encounters With Ordinary Birds
Review
"Most 'me and my bird' stories are mildly entertaining at best, but Wesley the Owl is a different animal altogether. Stacey O'Brien got to know this owl with a unique combination of deep scientific understanding and rare emotional intensity, and the result is stunning, unforgettable. Read this book and you will never see owls, or humans, in the same light again." -- Kenn Kaufman, author of Kingbird Highway and Flights Against the Sunset
Review
"An inside look at the mind of an owl. If you are interested in animal intelligence, you should read this book."-- Temple Grandin, author of Animals in Translation
Review
"[S]weet, quirky memoir....[T]his little guy's such a character."-- USA Today
Review
"Stacey O'Brien tells the intriguing story of how her life was changed and rearranged when she attempted to tame and raise Wesley -- a barn owl. She shows us how she was ultimately repaid with his love and devotion, and given glimpses into the mind of an animal that has an unexpected ability to understand human language and to communicate. Fascinating!"-- Stanley Coren, psychologist and author of How Dogs Think and Why Does My Dog Act That Way?
Review
An Amazon Best Book of the Monthandquot;Insightful and philosophical, Jans probes the boundaries between wilderness and civilization and our responsibilities to the untamed creatures in our midst.andquot; --
Publishers Weeklyandquot;The sweet and cautionary tale of a wolf that liked to play with dogs...An astute, deeply respectful encounter between man and wolf.andquot; -- Kirkus Reviews
andquot;Jans is an exceptional storyteller andmdash; no nature writer can top him in terms of sheer emotional force andmdash; and he frames even the smallest moment with haunting power.andquot; --and#160;The New York Timesandquot;A thoughtful, highly detailed account of one communityand#39;s poignant encounter with a truly magnificent creature.andquot;and#160;--and#160;BookPageandquot;Beautifully written, A Wolf Called Romeo is a thoughtful and moving story about one of natureand#39;s most evocative animals. Be forewarned: I read it cover to cover in one sitting late into the night. The author owes me a good nightand#39;s sleep; but it was well worth it.andquot; -- Patricia McConnell, author of The Other End of the Leashandquot;The compelling, grounded account of a black wolf that stepped forward in the half-light between wilderness and civilization and the people who met him there. From the powerful first moments to a hard-won conclusion that becomes our journey, too, A Wolf Called Romeo is a book to keep a reader up nights, and a book that carries long after the last page is turned.andquot; -- Susannah Charleson, author of Scent of the Missing and The Possibility Dogsandquot;A Wolf Called Romeo is one of the best books Iandrsquo;ve read in a great many years. It gives heart-wrenching insight into an amazing animal, important insight into the shining side of our relationship with that animal, and important if bitter insight into the dark side. Itandrsquo;s told in a quiet, even-handed manner which makes it all the more compelling, and itandrsquo;s riveting. In short, this is a real page turner-- one that years from now you will remember in all its detail. If you have only the time to read one book, read this one.andquot; -- Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of The Hidden Life of Dogs and A Million Years With You
Review
Terry Masearandrsquo;s charming account of saving hurt and orphaned hummingbirds grabbed my attention from the first paragraph and kept me riveted until the very last page. I loved this artfully woven story and am certain that animal lovers of all ages will as well.
andmdash;Michele Raffin, author of The Birds of Pandemonium
Review
andldquo;In her endearing new book,
FASTEST THINGS ON WINGS: Rescuing Hummingbirds in Hollywood, Terry Masear reveals that these birds are not only gorgeous, smart and jaw-dropping masters of flight but also trusting souls that bring out the humanity and love in even the most hard-bitten residents...This is a book about birds that is actually a book about love, and Masear does us a favor by risking heartbreak every day....a powerful story of interspecies communication and trust. The last words of FASTEST THINGS ON WINGS are: andlsquo;I am flying.andrsquo; A fitting end to a book that will change forever the way you look at these little birds.andrdquo;
andmdash;Los Angeles Timesand#160;andquot;rewarding for birds and reader alike. This is a charming and lively summertime read, something for the patio or balcony, glass of iced tea at hand, a hummingbird or two zipping around the azaleas.andquot;
andmdash;Dallas Morning Newsand#160;and#160;andquot;a must-read for everyone who enjoys hummingbirds. (Is there anyone who does not fit that category?) Terry Masear is a hummingbird rehabilitator who takes in these tiny injured birds and treats them with great care. Her book, FASTEST THINGS ON WINGS tells about her experiences winning andndash; and occasionally losing andndash; her battles to bring her charges back to health. Although Masear lives in Hollywood and deals with West Coast birds, her stories apply equally to the one species, the ruby-throated hummingbird, we have here. I learned much from this book.andquot;
andmdash;Buffalo News
andldquo;[a] bright, engrossing debutandhellip;Not just for birders, this captivating book brims with warmth, humor, and drama that will have wide appeal.andrdquo;
andmdash;Kirkus Reviews,and#160;starred reviewand#160;andquot;Encounters with hummingbirds with a variety of personalities have given [Masear] many insightful stories to tell. She has also learned much about the sometimes strange and other times wonderful people of her community, who call her night and day to report orphaned or distressed hummingbirds. Masear is bound to win fans with this passionate memoir.andquot;
andmdash;Booklistand#160;andquot;Masear shares an abundance of knowledge about hummingbirdsandrsquo; mating and feeding habits, their incredible flying abilities and migratory journeys, and what they need to heal and thrive. But her observations about the rescuers are just as interesting. and#39;You can learn a lot about someone by his reaction to a helpless hummingbird in need of rescue,and#39; she writes. and#39;In fact, you can find out just about everything you need to know about a person.and#39;andquot;
andmdash;BirdWatching Magazine
andquot;Terry Masearandrsquo;s charming account of saving hurt and orphaned hummingbirds grabbed my attention from the first paragraph and kept me riveted until the very last page. I loved this artfully woven story and am certain that animal lovers of all ages will as well.andquot;
andmdash;Michele Raffin, author of The Birds of Pandemonium
andquot;This rare and lovely book is destined to be a classic. I was riveted, charmed, delighted, devastated, profoundly moved, and taken to a magical place few people ever get to glimpse. Itand#39;s one of the best books Iand#39;ve ever read about how rehabbers bond with the animals we save.andquot;
andmdash;Stacey Oand#39;Brien, author of Wesley the Owl
andquot;This book is a delightful read. No one else could write such a wonderful memoir of care, compassion, and delight for these small creatures. Masearandrsquo;s writing is
enthralling and captivatingandmdash;and I hated for it to end.andrdquo;
andmdash;Joanna Burger, author of The Parrot Who Owns Me
andldquo;Fastest Thing on Wings is an exaltation of hummingbirds, but itandrsquo;s also the story of Terry Masearandrsquo;s exceptional heart and heroism in saving these fragile and remarkable creatures.and#160; In her beautiful account, every rescue is a revelation. Hollywood is full of stars, but few shine as brightly as hers.andrdquo;
and#160;andmdash;Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO, The Humane Society of the United States
and#160;andquot;In this well-written memoir, she tells the story of Gabriel, a male Annaandrsquo;s Hummingbird rescued from danger in the middle of busy Rodeo Drive, and Pepper, a female Annaandrsquo;s injured on a film set. Along the way, Masear shares an abundance of knowledge about hummingbirdsandrsquo; mating and feeding habits, their incredible flying abilities and migratory journeys, and what they need to heal and thrive. But her observations about the rescuers are just as interesting. and#39;You can learn a lot about someone by his reaction to a helpless hummingbird in need of rescue,and#39; she writes. and#39;In fact, you can find out just about everything you need to know about a person.and#39;andquot; andmdash;BirdWatching
andquot;You donandrsquo;t have to be a bird person in general or a hummingbird person specifically to read this book. You donandrsquo;t need to know anything about birds at all. The very gifted bird whisperer Terry Masear has you covered. Sheandrsquo;s one of Californiaandrsquo;s hardest-working hummingbird rehabilitators. What she knows about these tiny wonders will leave the average bird lover agog....[youand#39;ll] come away with a sense of awe for the tenacity and toughness of these wild animals and their sheer will to survive.andquot; andmdash;Washington Post
and#160;
andldquo;I cannot believe what a gripping read this is andndash; itandrsquo;s like the Hunger Games for hummingbirds.andrdquo; andmdash;Robin Young, host of NPRand#39;s Here and Now
and#160;
andquot;I begin with a must-read for everyone who enjoys hummingbirds. (Is there anyone who does not fit that category?) Terry Masear is a hummingbird rehabilitator who takes in these tiny injured birds and treats them with great care. Her book, Fastest Things on Wings, tells about her experiences winning andndash; and occasionally losing andndash; her battles to bring her charges back to health. Although Masear lives in Hollywood and deals with West Coast birds, her stories apply equally to the one species, the ruby-throated hummingbird, we have here. I learned much from this bookandquot; andmdash;Buffalo News
andldquo;When Terry Masear, author of THE FASTEST THINGS ON WINGS: Rescuing Hummingbirds in Hollywood rescued a fledgling 12 years ago, she had no idea that she would one day be Hollywoodandrsquo;s go-to hummingbird rehabber, fielding as many as 85 calls a dayandhellip;.[In the book] she explains how one of the smallest, most beautiful birds in the world evolved from dinosaurs; how hummingbirds can experience PTSD; how even rock stars cry over injured hummingbird chicks; and why she suffers from kitchenheimers.andrdquo; andndash;National Geographicand#160;
Synopsis
The remarkable true story of a six-year friendship between a wild, oddly gentle black wolf and the people and dogs of Juneau, Alaska.
Synopsis
The unlikely true story of a six-year friendship between a wild, oddly gentle black wolf and the people and dogs of Juneau, Alaska and#160; No stranger to wildlife, Nick Jans had lived in Alaska for nearly thirty years. But when one evening at twilight a lone black wolf ambled into view not far from his doorstep, Nick would finally come to know this mystical speciesand#8212;up close as never before.
A Wolf Called Romeo is the remarkable story of a wolf who returned again and again to interact with the people and dogs of Juneau, living on the edges of their community, engaging in an improbable, awe-inspiring interspecies dance and bringing the wild into sharp focus. At first the people of Juneau were guarded, torn between shoot first, ask questions later instincts and curiosity. But as Romeo began to tag along with cross-country skiers on their daily jaunts, play fetch with local dogs, or simply lie near Nick and nap under the sun, they came to accept Romeo, and he them. For Nick it was about trying to understand Romeo, then it was about winning his trust, and ultimately it was about watching over him, for as long as he or anyone could.
Written with a deft hand and a searching heart, A Wolf Called Romeo is an unforgettable tale of a creature who defied nature and thus gave humans a chance to understand it a little more.
and#160;
and#160;
Synopsis
A Hollywood hummingbird rehabber will do nearly anything to save these tiny, fragile creatures, and readers following her adventures will learn just how astonishing and heartwarming these birds can be.
Synopsis
A heartwarming account of the trials and triumphs a hummingbird rehabber encounters while caring for her tiny, fragile patients Before he collided with a limousine, Gabriel, an Annaandrsquo;s hummingbird with a head and throat cloaked in iridescent magenta feathers, could spiral 130 feet in the air, dive 60 miles per hour in a courtship display, hover, and fly backward. When he arrived in rehab caked in road grime, he was so badly injured that he could barely perch. But Terry Masear, one of the busiest hummingbird rehabbers in the country, was determined to save this damaged bird, who seemed oddly familiar. During the four months that Terry worked with Gabriel, she took in 160 hummingbirds, from a miniature nestling rescued by a bulldog and a fledgling trapped inside a skydiving wind tunnel at Universal CityWalk, to Pepper, a female Annaandrsquo;s injured on a film set. In their time together, Pepper and Gabriel form a special bond and, together, with Terryandrsquo;s help, learn to fly again. Woven around Gabrielandrsquo;s and Pepperandrsquo;s stories are those of other colorful birds in this personal narrative filled with the science and magic surrounding these fascinating creatures.
and#160;
About the Author
Stacey O'Brien is trained as a biologist specializing in wild-animal behavior. She graduated from Occidental College with a BS in biology and continued her education at Caltech. Stacey now works as a wildlife rescuer and rehabilitation expert with a variety of local animals, including the endangered brown pelican, owls, seabirds, possums, and songbirds. She lives in Southern California.
Table of Contents
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Acknowledgmentsand#160;xiii
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Prologueand#160;xv 1.and#160;Wolf!and#160;1
2.and#160;Rules of Engagementand#160;23
3.and#160;Romeoand#160;41
4.and#160;The Original Machineand#160;55
5.and#160;Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Upand#160;75
6.and#160;The Survival Sweepstakesand#160;91
7.and#160;Whatand#8217;s in a Name?and#160;109
8.and#160;The New Normaland#160;123
9.and#160;The Miracle Wolfand#160;135
10.and#160;The Wolf Whispererand#160;147
11.and#160;Pugs and Pomeraniansand#160;167
12.and#160;Friends of Romeoand#160;183
13.and#160;The Killersand#160;201
14.and#160;The Weight of Dreamsand#160;221 and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Epilogueand#160;233
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Notesand#160;237
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Suggested Readingand#160;249
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Index and#160;253