More than a walk in the woods

Nature Notes: Owl Prowling

I recently read Jonathan Slaght’s Owls of the Eastern Ice, about his time in the remote Russian Far East studying the world’s largest owl, Blakiston’s Fish-Owl. It’s as much about the climate and culture of the region as the birds. As with many high-latitude owl species, breeding begins in winter. To understand fish-owl nesting needs, the author endured months of winter conditions that even many of us North Woods aficionados would find challenging. It’s a testament to the endurance of owls as well.