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The House of Owls
“A charming personal account, accompanied by nearly 100 illustrations, that underscores how owls and other birds enrich our lives.”—Kirkus Reviews Winner of the National Outdoor Book Award For a quarter of a century, Tony Angell and his family shared the remarkable experience of closely observing pairs of western screech owls that occupied a nesting box outside the window of their forest home. The journals in which the author recorded his observations, and the captivating drawings he created, form the heart of this compelling book—a personal account of an artist-naturalist’s life with owls. Angell’s extensive illustrations show owls engaged in what owls do—hunting, courting, raising families, and exercising their inquisitive natures—and reveal his immeasurable respect for their secret lives and daunting challenges. Angell discusses the unique characteristics that distinguish owls from other bird species and provides a fascinating overview of the impact owls have had on human culture and thought. He also offers detailed scientific descriptions of the nineteen species of owls found in North America, as well as their close relatives elsewhere. Always emphasizing the interaction of humans and owls, the author affirms the power of these birds to both beguile and inspire. “Endearing…provides a lot of fascinating information about these reclusive creatures.”—The New York Times Book Review “Angell writes (and draws) with the absolute authority of one who has studied, rehabilitated, lived with and loved the animals his whole life.”—The Wall Street Journal “Steeped in the tradition of Alexander Wilson and John James Audubon, it blends taxonomy, ornithology, biogeography and autobiography.”—Times Literary Supplement
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2015
54 people are currently reading
523 people want to read
About the author
Tony Angell
17 books12 followersTony Angell was born in 1940 in Los Angeles, and grew up among the hills and canyons of Southern California. His love of nature is rooted in the afternoons he spent watching birds, collecting plants, building forts and hiking to the far reaches of the Santa Monica Mountains and canyons.
While at the University of Washington, Tony sketched and observed the bird life of the Northwest and eventually put together a portfolio of drawings and sketches. He was signed with the very first gallery he walked into, one of Seattle's oldest and finest galleries, Foster-White. Fortuitously, Mr. White was looking for a nature artist to round out his roster of artists.
After beginning his career in the 1960s as a painter, he began to focus on sculpture, which he produces in his studios in Seattle and Lopez Island. He has also ventured into the fields of writing and illustrating and, between 1972 and 1992, published a number of books, principally about the birds of the Northwest. Books showcasing his work include Owls (1974), Ravens, Crows, Magpies and Jays (1978), and Marine Birds and Mammals of Puget Sound (1982)—all published by the University of Washington Press.
Author, illustrator and sculptor, Angell has won numerous writing and artistic awards for his work on behalf of nature including the prestigious Master Artist Award of the Leigh Yawkey Art Museum. His sculptural forms celebrating nature are to be found in public and private collections throughout the country. Tony has worked actively as a board member of Washington's chapter of The Nature Conservancy, is an elected Fellow of the National Sculpture Society, and retired in 2002 as Director of Environmental Education for the state of Washington after 30 years. He lives in Seattle with his wife and two daughters.
While at the University of Washington, Tony sketched and observed the bird life of the Northwest and eventually put together a portfolio of drawings and sketches. He was signed with the very first gallery he walked into, one of Seattle's oldest and finest galleries, Foster-White. Fortuitously, Mr. White was looking for a nature artist to round out his roster of artists.
After beginning his career in the 1960s as a painter, he began to focus on sculpture, which he produces in his studios in Seattle and Lopez Island. He has also ventured into the fields of writing and illustrating and, between 1972 and 1992, published a number of books, principally about the birds of the Northwest. Books showcasing his work include Owls (1974), Ravens, Crows, Magpies and Jays (1978), and Marine Birds and Mammals of Puget Sound (1982)—all published by the University of Washington Press.
Author, illustrator and sculptor, Angell has won numerous writing and artistic awards for his work on behalf of nature including the prestigious Master Artist Award of the Leigh Yawkey Art Museum. His sculptural forms celebrating nature are to be found in public and private collections throughout the country. Tony has worked actively as a board member of Washington's chapter of The Nature Conservancy, is an elected Fellow of the National Sculpture Society, and retired in 2002 as Director of Environmental Education for the state of Washington after 30 years. He lives in Seattle with his wife and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
July 9, 2024
If you have any interest in owls or birds, this book is delightful. My first real encounter with an owl stays with me to this day. The author here relates his stories about his childhood interest in owls. My story is this—-while camping with my family in a godforsaken sagebrush campground, my mother and sisters and I made a last of the evening trip to the rustic outhouse. Someone opened the door and out flapped a frantic owl, leaving everyone screaming and my dad running towards the commotion. He must have assumed it was all about a snake or a body. We all fell out laughing. I’ll never forget that owl. If you read this book you’ll learn that barn owls in particular often roost in abandoned or seldom used human structures. That barn owl was probably pretty perturbed to have its roost disturbed.
Angell is a naturalist, writer and artist and does all three beautifully here. The book begins with his experiences with Western Screech Owls at his rural home near Seattle. He built an owl house and attached it to a tree outside his bedroom window hoping an owl couple would nest. Indeed they did which afforded Angell and his family 25 years of close observation and entertainment with this species. Angell follows one year, January through Autumn, watching the owls mate, laying eggs, feeding, fledging, owlet training, ending with dispersal.
Most of the remaining book describes North American owl species, habitats, size, etc. Part of my recommendation for this book is based on the beautiful art work by the author. Owls are basically dull in color for camouflage. Photos would never have done as well as Angell’s art. Additionally, a photographer would have been hard pressed to capture all these fabulous pieces. At times the written descriptions are not nearly as easy to understand. In one case, he draws a female owl cooling herself outside the nesting box. She is shown flopped forward resting the top of her head on a shelf, chest flat against the box. A very unique drawing captures this.
Information on different species can be found elsewhere but is very well done here. Terrific entertainment.
Angell is a naturalist, writer and artist and does all three beautifully here. The book begins with his experiences with Western Screech Owls at his rural home near Seattle. He built an owl house and attached it to a tree outside his bedroom window hoping an owl couple would nest. Indeed they did which afforded Angell and his family 25 years of close observation and entertainment with this species. Angell follows one year, January through Autumn, watching the owls mate, laying eggs, feeding, fledging, owlet training, ending with dispersal.
Most of the remaining book describes North American owl species, habitats, size, etc. Part of my recommendation for this book is based on the beautiful art work by the author. Owls are basically dull in color for camouflage. Photos would never have done as well as Angell’s art. Additionally, a photographer would have been hard pressed to capture all these fabulous pieces. At times the written descriptions are not nearly as easy to understand. In one case, he draws a female owl cooling herself outside the nesting box. She is shown flopped forward resting the top of her head on a shelf, chest flat against the box. A very unique drawing captures this.
Information on different species can be found elsewhere but is very well done here. Terrific entertainment.
April 18, 2017
Beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder. I know that as I tell you that Angell has written THE most beautiful book about owls. He is not only a more than competent naturalist, but a good writer and a superb illustrator. This isn't fiction so I won't say that the plot is compelling but he writes lyrically about the over twenty years that he and his family observed owls nesting in a box he created within view of his house.
Each element of an owl's day is chronicled and each season brings its changes. Angell's skill as a naturalist is used when he examines the owls' castings and each winter cleans out their abandoned "house." This would be sufficient for my high rating.
In addition, he provides a chapter on the variety and anatomy of owls; a chapter on how we have taken owl images and behavior into human cultures; a chapter on the species of owls that most prominently co-exist with humans; and, two chapters on how some owls have retreated to less accessible habitats and unique adaptations by some owls. All of these are accompanied by helpful graphics including his very elegant pen and ink renderings.
Obviously, this is not a book for everyone, but it should be a "must read" for anyone who has curiosity or deeper interest in this family of birds, most of which, we rarely get to see.
Each element of an owl's day is chronicled and each season brings its changes. Angell's skill as a naturalist is used when he examines the owls' castings and each winter cleans out their abandoned "house." This would be sufficient for my high rating.
In addition, he provides a chapter on the variety and anatomy of owls; a chapter on how we have taken owl images and behavior into human cultures; a chapter on the species of owls that most prominently co-exist with humans; and, two chapters on how some owls have retreated to less accessible habitats and unique adaptations by some owls. All of these are accompanied by helpful graphics including his very elegant pen and ink renderings.
Obviously, this is not a book for everyone, but it should be a "must read" for anyone who has curiosity or deeper interest in this family of birds, most of which, we rarely get to see.
August 30, 2024
Extreme details about owls mentioning things that I never heard of before. This guy is the expert. It is sad as so many owls are dying out and they have such a struggle. He has taken care of owls most all his life going to extremes to save them and keep them alive. If you like owls too this is a good book for you. The illustrations show details that I never imagined.
November 7, 2018
There are books which I read at the coffeeshop, or on the bus as part of my morning commute. These are books which require that you sit up straight and pay attention, and maybe even think hard sometimes, to really absorb what you are being told. Then, there are other books which I read at night, lying in bed, as the last thing before I turn off the lamp and close my eyes. I would say that I pay attention to them as well, but in a different way. They help me to relax, and reading them is a bit meditative. This was such a book.
It helps that it is written by an artist, and it is filled with his wonderful drawings of owls. It is also filled with words that show an artist's talent for imagining a setting. Likely it is also helped by the pacing, in which (after a few initial chapters) each species of owl gets a few pages, making it a nice bite-sized chunk every evening.
It occurs to me only now, while writing this, that because owls are mostly nocturnal, the very topic itself might have put me into a mood ready for slumber. There are the occasional bits of mourning of the way in which humanity is dominating the landscape and devastating the ecosystem, but he mostly keeps the spotlight on the owl and how it lives its life. I am taken away from my all-too-human-oriented perspective, and allowed to forget about humanity for a few minutes.
Have I mentioned that the pictures are very nice? Also, there are maps for the ranges of the different species.
Owls, I have realized in the course of reading this book (and seeings its many illustrations), have somewhat stern and perhaps judgemental expressions, owing principally to their eyes and the feathers just above them that look like frowning eyebrows. This made the pictures of, say, the male bringing a dead rat to the female, or the female bumping the male off his branch as a way to tell him to go get another, are all the more amusing because of this.
About 4 months ago, I was at a state park in Illinois for a presentation on owls, in which half a dozen different (rescued) owls were brought out for us to see close up. Their eyes are really quite mesmerizing, and it is probably impossible for any reproduction (even high-resolution photographs) to be quite the same. But, Tony Angell's drawings are pretty close.
It helps that it is written by an artist, and it is filled with his wonderful drawings of owls. It is also filled with words that show an artist's talent for imagining a setting. Likely it is also helped by the pacing, in which (after a few initial chapters) each species of owl gets a few pages, making it a nice bite-sized chunk every evening.
It occurs to me only now, while writing this, that because owls are mostly nocturnal, the very topic itself might have put me into a mood ready for slumber. There are the occasional bits of mourning of the way in which humanity is dominating the landscape and devastating the ecosystem, but he mostly keeps the spotlight on the owl and how it lives its life. I am taken away from my all-too-human-oriented perspective, and allowed to forget about humanity for a few minutes.
Have I mentioned that the pictures are very nice? Also, there are maps for the ranges of the different species.
Owls, I have realized in the course of reading this book (and seeings its many illustrations), have somewhat stern and perhaps judgemental expressions, owing principally to their eyes and the feathers just above them that look like frowning eyebrows. This made the pictures of, say, the male bringing a dead rat to the female, or the female bumping the male off his branch as a way to tell him to go get another, are all the more amusing because of this.
About 4 months ago, I was at a state park in Illinois for a presentation on owls, in which half a dozen different (rescued) owls were brought out for us to see close up. Their eyes are really quite mesmerizing, and it is probably impossible for any reproduction (even high-resolution photographs) to be quite the same. But, Tony Angell's drawings are pretty close.
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April 5, 2024Great mix of personal owl stories and cold hard owl facts. Exactly what I was looking for.
August 3, 2016
The House of Owls is an engrossing, interesting, and educational read, but what really raises it to the five-star level are Tony Angell's exquisite drawings. Part field guide with detailed descriptions and scientific information about North American owl species, and part personal journal about the author's years of experiences and observations of Western screech owls nesting nearby, I found this to be a wonderful combination, and my favorite owl book to date.
Book Bingo 2016 - Nature writing
Book Bingo 2016 - Nature writing
August 23, 2020
A wonderful blend of personal passion and natural history. The illustrations are divine, and owls come alive in this book in a way few general overviews can accomplish. The last half of the book becomes a bit of a slog as it goes species by species throughout North America telling you all about their habits and habitats, and I admit I skimmed some of that. But even that section is sensitively and poetically presented. Highly recommended if you want to know more about owls.
February 1, 2018
Very interesting and enjoyable book about both the author's experience with owls and a detailed description of the different owls that live in the U.S.
September 1, 2023
I learned a lot about owls!
May 22, 2015
Perfect for the budding naturalist ... an exploration of the various owls native to North America, including such scientific facts as preferred habitats, diet, predators, etc. ... illustrated throughout with the most marvelous pen-and-ink drawings ...
October 23, 2019
This book takes an in depth look at owls and shows readers how they can both delight and inspire us and how they have done for centuries and will for years to come.
The House of Owls is the culmination of a quarter of a century's observations made by artist-naturalist Tony Angell. His love and respect for these incredible birds comes through clearly in both the writing and illustrations found here. The first several chapters talk about the Author's personal experience with owls as well as their impact on our society and culture. The latter half of the book gives details of the species of owls found in North America and a few found elsewhere. At the beginning of each species description, the author includes a personal experience with that species the experience of someone else that he feels is relevant. In both cases, the reader gets factual information about the owl but also gets a look in to what these birds mean to individuals and societies throughout the world.
As an artist and a naturalist and not a scientist, the author looks at owls in a way that is completely relatable for the everyday reader. Although there is plenty of factual information in this book, it is not overwhelmingly dry or technical and is very easy to understand. I learned so much about owls that I did not know before picking up this book, and I now find them even more enchanting than I did before. That, I think, was the author's main purpose in writing this book.
I listened to the audio book; so I missed out on the illustrations as I was reading. However, there was a link for me to follow so that I could see them separately, and that was definitely a plus. If you're going to pick this book up though, I'd suggest getting it in print form. The author is a skilled artist, and his drawings are not to be missed.
Bottom line: Owls have fascinated and inspired generations, and this book does a wonderful job of describing that and giving the reader a glimpse into why that might be. The facts on specific species may not be helpful to bird experts, but to the everyday reader it is very informative. If you enjoy nature books in general or birds specifically, I think you'll find this a delightful read.
The House of Owls is the culmination of a quarter of a century's observations made by artist-naturalist Tony Angell. His love and respect for these incredible birds comes through clearly in both the writing and illustrations found here. The first several chapters talk about the Author's personal experience with owls as well as their impact on our society and culture. The latter half of the book gives details of the species of owls found in North America and a few found elsewhere. At the beginning of each species description, the author includes a personal experience with that species the experience of someone else that he feels is relevant. In both cases, the reader gets factual information about the owl but also gets a look in to what these birds mean to individuals and societies throughout the world.
As an artist and a naturalist and not a scientist, the author looks at owls in a way that is completely relatable for the everyday reader. Although there is plenty of factual information in this book, it is not overwhelmingly dry or technical and is very easy to understand. I learned so much about owls that I did not know before picking up this book, and I now find them even more enchanting than I did before. That, I think, was the author's main purpose in writing this book.
I listened to the audio book; so I missed out on the illustrations as I was reading. However, there was a link for me to follow so that I could see them separately, and that was definitely a plus. If you're going to pick this book up though, I'd suggest getting it in print form. The author is a skilled artist, and his drawings are not to be missed.
Bottom line: Owls have fascinated and inspired generations, and this book does a wonderful job of describing that and giving the reader a glimpse into why that might be. The facts on specific species may not be helpful to bird experts, but to the everyday reader it is very informative. If you enjoy nature books in general or birds specifically, I think you'll find this a delightful read.
Read
December 18, 2019No rating because I didn't quite read the whole thing despite having it out from the library for over a month, but this is a lovely book with exquisite illustrations and writing that is full of wisdom and love for its subject. It's just a tough book to read if you can't sit down and immerse yourself in its slow, thoughtful world, and I struggled with getting my mind off work and the news and to-do lists enough to fully experience these awesome owls. When I drop it in the book time machine that I will one day build to send myself books at the right moment in my life, I'll send it to a self that is spending more time in the woods. If a quiet and beautiful nature read (but one that doesn't shy away from the blood & guts of predators and the tragedy of climate change) sounds like what you need, this is worth picking up!
December 9, 2020
Naturalists often strive to document and illustrate their favorite species, noting appearance, behaviors, interactions, feeding, pair bonding, and so much more. Following this custom Tony Angell’s work sets a high bar. Twenty-five years of careful observation and the occasional participation in owl rehabilitation are evident. The descriptions and illustrations evoke an intimacy with and empathy for the owls that few others have achieved.
To read the rest of my review and find more resources about owls, come on over to: http://comfortmewithnature.com
And thanks for reading!
To read the rest of my review and find more resources about owls, come on over to: http://comfortmewithnature.com
And thanks for reading!
January 19, 2022
I enjoyed the anecdotes about interactions with owls. The last half of the book is very useful in its life histories of which includes a general narrative about each species as well as range/habitat, foods, vocalizations, courtship/nesting, threats/conservation, and vital statistics. It was a surprise to me that many owls prey on other species of owls. It will perhaps come as no surprise that it is a miracle any owls survive at all. The illustrations are charming except for the one of the barn owl on p. 75.
July 7, 2020
Reading this book I bacame a big fan of Angell.
The book is great. Fun to read, in spite of all the fact information that could be repetitive and tiring. The way he presented those fact information was such that it's a pleasure to read them.
Another cool thing is to realize that his a local to where I live, living not far from me. (that means I do have a chance to see some of those owls too!)
I also searched online for his artwork and loved them too.
Very nice book!
The book is great. Fun to read, in spite of all the fact information that could be repetitive and tiring. The way he presented those fact information was such that it's a pleasure to read them.
Another cool thing is to realize that his a local to where I live, living not far from me. (that means I do have a chance to see some of those owls too!)
I also searched online for his artwork and loved them too.
Very nice book!
February 20, 2024
This is not going to be a must-read for post people, unless you grew up with birds of prey in your house like I did. It did not make a good nursing read (chapters were too long for short, distracted sessions) but I finished it nonetheless, as I find nature writing calming and I have an affinity for these birds, both from helping to rehabilitate them as a small child and because my daughter took them up as her first favorite animal.
January 22, 2018
Delightful read embellished with lovely drawings of each owl by the author. He first describes a lifetime of experiences with owls and then catalogs each owl species with precise descriptions of habitat, vocalizations, food preferences, mating and nesting behaviors, and threats and preservation challenges.
December 27, 2021
Beautiful artwork. Tales told from first-hand experience rehabilitating injured owls, or setting up habitats for owls. Some studies from other naturalists but the strong point is from his own intimate relationship with owls. Beautifully divided into descriptions of owls, habitats, food sources, mating patterns, etc.
January 9, 2024
Lovely little book about owls! Partly the author's own experiences and observations living in close proximity to owls and rehabbing them from injuries, and also factual info on various species and habitats. Beautifully illustrated. Less than 200 pgs. Recommended for birders and anyone interested in owls.
February 1, 2024
I learned a lot of facts about owls by reading this book. It has a nice personal touch with owl stories and lovely drawings by the author. We have great horned owls and barn owls where we live in the desert in Southern California. I knew very little about these owls or any other owls for that matter, and this book was a great introduction to owls and how they live.
May 27, 2017
I didn't finish this book. I got caught up in the descriptions of the different species, and then the book was due back at the library. I liked the personal essays, drawings and description of owls and humans.
September 6, 2017
Beautiful book, illustrated by the author. Tony Angell passionately cares about owls, their habitat, and their well being. He has had the opportunity to get "up close and personal" with many owl species, as a rehabber, as well as a naturalist and artist.
March 25, 2018
I enjoyed this book. In the sections with the species accounts, I appreciated that for each species he included a personal account of his interaction with the owl. This prevented these sections from getting repetitive/dull.
February 7, 2020
Overall I enjoy it but I was hoping for more stories about the owls and less run through of individual species largely ones found on the west coast. I loved the first two chapters but I would read a field guide for the majority of the other ones.
October 20, 2022
Tony Angell is a fellow lover of owls, with much personal experience. He combines excellent life histories of our owls along with his wonderful owl art, but my favorite parts were his actual experiences.
November 19, 2022
First half of the book was the best. The species accounts in the last half were ok with personal anecdotes that elevated them above guide material. The drawings were wonderful throughout, amazing really, and made the book an enjoyable read.
July 19, 2019
A beautifully illustrated book about the artist, Tony Angell, and Owls. We get stories about owls, textures, deaths, and knowledge. Enjoyable read.
July 23, 2020
the illustrations and the beginning of the book were beautiful!
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December 9, 2020I really enjoyed the first section, though the rest was interesting it didn't have as much heart as the first section for me.
October 25, 2022
Great read for any nature-lover. From how owls became part of his life, to well-written biographies of 19 types of owls, a fun and informative read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews