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Small Mountain Owls
This fascinating and beautiful guide provides detailed information and over 160 striking photos and drawings of four species of small mountain owls found in America's Rocky Mountains, with special focus on the inhabitants of the Rocky Mountains National the Flammulated Owl, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, and Boreal Owl. The lives and ranges of these tiny predators are detailed, including information concerning their anatomy, coloration, vocalizations, ranges, courtship and nesting behaviors, egg laying, fledgling raising, hunting habits, diets, mortality, longevity, and much more. The engaging text reflects the author's passion for these tiny owls, some small enough to perch comfortably on a number two pencil, and provides details about the recovery and restoration to health of injured small mountain owls. The book ends with a useful glossary of scientific names and a detailed bibliography. This book will be a treasured reference for anyone interested in the avian world.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2009
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 9, 2020
as a reference: 5
as a book to read: 3
An impressive piece of work given that Rashid did much of the research, summarized the literature, took most of the photos and was the illustrator. I've used this as a reference for quite a few years. Then, a couple of months ago, my niece reported seeing pygmy owls on the fence posts in Kalispell, Montana, and I decided I needed to know more about these small owls.
Half of the book is devoted to the Northern pygmy owl; the other half discusses the flammulated owl, Northern saw-whet owl, and boreal owl.
The anecdotal information adds interest to the text, but the descriptive data would have been better presented in tables and charts. Reading sentences filled with measurements (lengths, weights), coloring, incubation data, dietary choices ... isn't the best way for me to learn. I get lost in the details and miss the big picture. Sad to admit, I closed the book without having distinct impressions of these four types of owls.
Some facts I hope to remember:
p 34, re pygmy owls: Those first few years of my research, I would begin surveying on 15 February and would enter the woods around 3:00 p.m. because that gave me about 2.5 to 3 hours of research time before it becomes too dark to see the birds. Then of course as daylight lengthens, I began my investigation later each day because the owls tended to vocalize just before it was too dark to see them.
p 93: As we hiked out of the owls' nesting area each evening, we were more often than not entertained by the antics of several fireflies in the tall grass of the meadow. Until that evening I was unaware that these insects were found above 6000 feet (1829 m).
This is news to me, too. I haven't seen fireflies at that altitude. In fact, I haven't seen fireflies in Colorado, but maybe that's because I haven't spend much time on the plains of Eastern Colorado.
p 114: Northern Saw-Whet Owls may be the third most numerous owl in the area, behind the Great-Horned Owl and Northern Pygmy-Owl.
The area being Estes Valley and Rocky Mtn NP.
Someday I may use this book to make my own summarizing chart.
as a book to read: 3
An impressive piece of work given that Rashid did much of the research, summarized the literature, took most of the photos and was the illustrator. I've used this as a reference for quite a few years. Then, a couple of months ago, my niece reported seeing pygmy owls on the fence posts in Kalispell, Montana, and I decided I needed to know more about these small owls.
Half of the book is devoted to the Northern pygmy owl; the other half discusses the flammulated owl, Northern saw-whet owl, and boreal owl.
The anecdotal information adds interest to the text, but the descriptive data would have been better presented in tables and charts. Reading sentences filled with measurements (lengths, weights), coloring, incubation data, dietary choices ... isn't the best way for me to learn. I get lost in the details and miss the big picture. Sad to admit, I closed the book without having distinct impressions of these four types of owls.
Some facts I hope to remember:
p 34, re pygmy owls: Those first few years of my research, I would begin surveying on 15 February and would enter the woods around 3:00 p.m. because that gave me about 2.5 to 3 hours of research time before it becomes too dark to see the birds. Then of course as daylight lengthens, I began my investigation later each day because the owls tended to vocalize just before it was too dark to see them.
p 93: As we hiked out of the owls' nesting area each evening, we were more often than not entertained by the antics of several fireflies in the tall grass of the meadow. Until that evening I was unaware that these insects were found above 6000 feet (1829 m).
This is news to me, too. I haven't seen fireflies at that altitude. In fact, I haven't seen fireflies in Colorado, but maybe that's because I haven't spend much time on the plains of Eastern Colorado.
p 114: Northern Saw-Whet Owls may be the third most numerous owl in the area, behind the Great-Horned Owl and Northern Pygmy-Owl.
The area being Estes Valley and Rocky Mtn NP.
Someday I may use this book to make my own summarizing chart.
September 26, 2024
I love owls. I have lived cheek to jowl with a family of great horned owls for twelve-plus years. Their nest tree had to come down this year, but one or both adults return to an oak tree thirty feet away in our neighbor's yard each dawn. So when a friend offered me this book, I thought I would look at the photos; it is the size of a coffee table book, but when I looked at the written content, I was compelled to read it. I gave it five stars for the content. Scott Rashid is reporting on the scientific information he gathered. Sometimes, he can narrate some beautiful moments of owl spotting, but mostly, the info appeals only to an owl lover like me. I have never seen a Boreal owl, but Scott describes the night he found and photographed a life bird sighting. I could relate to the thrill. I especially loved that the scientist he was helping confessed to a little white lie ("Oh, definitely, you will see a boreal owl") to get Scott to go owling with him. He thought they would probably only hear one. The book is loaded with gems like this that appeal to a birder and an owl enthusiast like me. It covers his experience with four little owl species found in the Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park, Colorado. You will want to read this book if you are an owl lover.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews