Book description
On Valentine’s Day 1985, biologist Stacey O’Brien adopted Wesley, a baby barn owl with an injured wing who could not have survived in the wild. Over the next nineteen years, O’Brien studied Wesley’s strange habits with both a tender heart and a scientist’s eye—and provided a mice-only diet that required…
Why read it?
2 authors picked Wesley the Owl as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
This book opened my eyes as to how intelligent and communicative an owl could be with the biologist who adopted him as an injured baby.
The author’s way of describing their developing relationship and the challenge of building trust creates a new understanding of what it means to be patient with another being from another species. They ultimately save each other when the biologist falls ill, and the remarkable nature of the love between bird and woman changed my perspective forever; I will always love this book.
From Michelle's list on soulmate animals that think and love.
Researchers don’t know much about barn owls so Stacey O’Brien, a biologist, and owl researcher, takes on the chance to raise one as a research assignment. Wesley quickly becomes so much more than that.
This memoir opens the door on owl intelligence and behavior while including unforgettable details like that baby barn owls smell “like maple syrup.” You’ll love the friendship between Wesley and his human.
A book that’s over far too quickly.
From Tove's list on animals helping us understand ourselves.
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