The
Pygmy-Owls
of
Forest Park
by John Deshler
Ever wondered what a day in the life of a small owl might be like? Or even a year? How do adult owls find one another and start to nest? How many eggs do they lay and what do they eat? Is it the same every year, or do their nesting habits and food vary? Do they fight with one another or with other types of owls? How long do they live? Do they migrate? And what about the young owls? How likely are they to survive? How old are they when they leave the nest and leave their parents? Or do their parents leave them? Where do the y0ung owls go? And how does a person research the nesting ecology of an owl? The Pygmy-Owls of Forest Park answers all of these questions and a thousand more about pygmy-owls and an amazing park where nearly a dozen pairs nest each year.
Immerse yourself in the real-life experiences of three neighboring pairs of Northern Pygmy-Owls in Forest Park (Portland, Oregon) where research into their nesting ecology has opened a window onto their mysterious world. Every owl's fidelity, devotion to offspring, and tenacity are tested as they confront predators, the forces of nature, and one another. Seldom-seen patterns of pygmy-owl behavior and ecology are shown through the owls' natural actions, calls, and songs. The story also explores the wild owls' interactions with humanity, including the author, whose own life story is intertwined with theirs. The fate of each of the owls, their ecology, their voices, and their timeless rivalries are ultimately revealed.
The Pygmy-Owl Book
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At dawn on a crisp, May morning, Salazar ascends to a sprig atop a towering Doug fir and sings into the open sky above the mile-wide ribbon of densely forested foothills that is Forest Park. Salazar is a pygmy-owl, a feisty two-ounce raptor who has controlled the Saltzman Creek watershed for years. He needs the entirety of it for himself, Salina, and their tiny owlets, if they are going to make it. Nearby, Mandeep, no bigger than a fir cone, sits atop a grand fir and sings back toward Salazar, desperately trying to lure a prospecting female—or Salina—over to his Maple Creek territory. Half a mile to the southeast, Robel is clutching a creeping vole in his talons and calling softly to Rochelle. Her fifth and sixth eggs hatched this morning and she is reluctant to leave the nest. A spring day in the lives of the pygmy-owls of Forest Park has begun.
“I have loved every minute of this narrative. All I can sense whilst reading it is the meticulous care used to portray these characters—the owls—honestly. The manuscript is accessible, well-paced, and emotionally gripping.” Michelle Martire, Finicky Muse Editorial