One Man's Owl: Abridged Edition

by Bernd Heinrich

This engaging chronicle of how the author and the great horned owl "Bubo" came to know one another over three summers spent in the Maine woods--and of how Bubo eventually grew into an independent hunter--is now available in an edition that has been abridged and revised so as to be more accessible to the general reader.

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction, Birds, Animals, Science, Memoir, Science Nature

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Bernd Heinrich was born in Germany (April 19, 1940) and moved to Wilton, Maine as a child. He studied at the University of Maine and UCLA and is Professor Emeritus of Biology at the University of Vermont.

He is the author of many books including Winter World, Ravens in Winter, Mind of the Raven, and Why We Run. Many of his books focus on the natural world just outside the cabin door.

Heinrich has won numerous awards for his writing and is a world class ultra-marathon runner.

He spends much of the year at a rustic cabin that he built himself in the woods near Weld, Maine.

Reviews

[Petra X · Rating 5 out of 5]

This, like all Heinrich's books, is a really fantastic read. The owl, Bubo, is observed both as pet-companion and scientifically. Here he is living in a small wooden cabin in the woods with a very large, 2' tall, 4-5' wingspan crazy, possessive owl that he raised from fluffy owlet mostly on road kill. The owl is extremely possessive and does not see why Heinrich seeks other company and so is given to dive-bombing visitors to shorten their stay. Heinrich who is always thinking up new ways of testing his theories on animals, adopts a pair of crows and tames them in order to engineer a confrontation between them and the big owl.

Heinrich is a very talented writer with a gift for describing the absolutely minute details of nature in his woods in a way that makes it seem as huge and important as it is for the animal itself. Especially with ravens, always Heinrich's favourites, but now with the owl, the animals become as rounded and complete as people, not one dimensional creatures that are nice to have around.

This isn't my favourite Bernd Heinrich book, although all are 5 star. I think my favourite has to be Mind of the Raven: Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds in which I learned just how easy it is for anyone to climb an 80' tree, if you know the right technique. (And I do now, but I can't see that I will ever need to put it into practice. Still you never know...)

Read 30 August 2011, reviewed 30 May 2016

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comfortable mix of incidents from Heinrich's personal life, explanations of how science works, and descriptions of the growth and development of a great horned owl, all related in chronological order. At times, I was so intrigued by what I was reading, that I couldn't put down the book -- that isn't usual for most of my nonfiction reading.

An example of his personal beliefs, p 14:
I feel a strong identity with the world of living things ... Trying to live in harmony with the dictates of nature is probably as inspirational as living in harmony with the Koran or the Bible.

As I had anticipated, I learned about the growth and behavior of great horned owls as well as about other birds.

• Crows, p 10:
Crows killed two owlets but did not eat them. This observation led to at least one question -- why did the crows kill the owlets if not for food? Did the crows perceive the owlets as a future danger so wasted no time in disposing of them? If so, that may mean crows, like humans, kill predators that they perceive as a danger to themselves or their young.

• young owl behavior, p 49:
Last night Bunny [a cat] brought back a young rabbit, and as usual he only ate the head. I hand the rest of the rabbit to Bubo, who begins chittering excitedly, and with his eyes closed he nibbles all over it. He always closes his eyes when he puts his bill near food or prey. Is this an adaptation that prevents eye injury caused by struggling prey? ... He eats all but the back and hindquarters, which he pulls and pushes into the farthest, darkest corner under the bed where he has never ventured before. Then he comes running out.

Yes, this is definitely a keeper. I know I'll read it again.

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bernd Heinrich is like a modern day Thoreau, with an added degree of difficulty to his endeavors. No, it's not enough for my man Bernd to disappear into the woods for months at a time. He likes to tame and study wild animals while Grizzly Adamsing it. In One Man's Owl, duh, he rescues and rehabilitates a great horned owl. But no! Living in a tiny primitive cabin with a crazy, overprotective owl isn't nearly enough for Bernd. He also raises and trains a pair of crows, just to see what would happen during a crow/owl showdown. Warriors! Come out and plaaaayyyyyyy! And he tends to casually mention how he's in training for something called an ultra-marathon. Oh Bernd. You overachieving bag of nuts.

Seriously. This book is effing riveting. While living with Bubo the Owl, Heinrich kept a detailed, daily journal, and that's essentially One Man's Owl. His writing is direct and without any sort of whimsy, but he clearly loves what he's doing and his surroundings and the simple joy of discovery, so the whole saga is almost whimsical by default.

Now excuse me while I go watch four hours of TV while the real Bernd is probably making peace in the Middle East because of some shit he learned while watching a single anthill for seven weeks.

I have wasted my life.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author, a naturalist and biology professor, spends a few months a year in his rustic cabin in Maine. Early one summer he finds an owlet, blown out of it's nest by a storm and takes the bird back to his cabin. This is our introduction to Bubo, a Great Horned Owl, that the author raises for the next 3 summers. He feeds the bird mainly road-kill and slowly tries to adapt the raptor to fend for himself.
This is a wonderful book, for bird & nature lovers and Heinrich is an excellent writer, with a profound love of nature. The star of the book is Bubo though. A fierce, quirky and playful bird, that can exude menace one moment and nibble your fingers affectionately the next. I am not sure I could spend such close proximity with this bird for such a long period but I sure loved reading about the experience.

[Sara Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly short read but not my favorite of Heinrichs work. It was written diary style and was mostly anti-climatic. Otherwise a nice naturalist read on raising an owl and the surprising struggles associated and of re-releasing into the wild

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Mi Búho’ es una cándida pero rigurosa y bien documentada historia personal, narrada en forma de diario con fecha y acompañada de unas preciosas ilustraciones propias, de un hombre que recoge y acoge a una cría de búho de tan sólo unas pocas semanas de una muerte segura a manos de unos graznos (enemigos mortales de esta especie de alados).
A parte de describirnos la anatomía, comportamientos y día a día con Búho, que permaneció junto a él durante nada menos que tres años, el autor, gran amante de la naturaleza y todo su entorno animal, va reflexionando acerca del ser humano y su poco respeto hacía todo lo alieno a éste, la ecología, el eterno debate entre las educación y el conveniente desarrollo conductual de las especies salvajes, la propia conducta de las familias, la naturaleza, el significado del cariño y quién nos lo aporta, la inteligencia de unas especies en detrimento de otras, jactadas de superiores, y acerca de la soledad y los lazos indelebles, entre otros temas.
Conforme va adquiriendo Cáliz temporal su relación con ésta curioso e importante espécimen: el búho cuernudo, los sentimientos de afecto, familiaridad, admiración y respeto crecen entre ambos. El escritor de éste personalísimo diario de enseñará a cazar en la naturaleza, a distinguir sus alimentos preferidos, a convivir con otras especies animales como el gato doméstico de su mujer, al cual no le hace nada por aprender a cohabitar y tratar socialmente, e incluso con un par de Graznos, en cautiverio para ser juego de la caza con Búho, pero que al final convivirán con éste y él con ellos cómo hermanos, con sus tira y afloja. Curiosamente, búho no se escapa cuando su cuidador / padre “adoptivo” humano (comen, cazan, se dan arrumacos e incluso cantan juntos, hasta en su etapa adulta, como cuando era un buhillo) lo deja ir por primera vez en libertad. Él está bien en su compañía y la del entorno salvaje de las montañas en el que pasan el verano. Así que seremos testigos de las diferentes etapas a nivel evolutivo biológico de búho cría a adulto, sus dotes y habilidades respecto a otras especies para su sustento y día a día.
Llega un momento crítico, cuando se lo llevan las autoridades durante un tiempo, en parte para rehabilitarlo. Búho se torna irrascible, salvaje. Entonces, armado de paciencia y mediante el trato gentil y cariñoso del escritor, búho retornará a su antiguo yo, su manifestación salvaje, pero amable y respetuosa. TODAS LAS ESPECIES NECESITAN UN EJEMPLO EN EL CUAL APOYARSE Y APRENDER, ALGUIEN A QUIEN RESPETAR Y QUERRER. QUEDA MUY CLARO CON LA VIVENCIA DE ÉSTE LIBRO!.
Pero siempre hay un final en todo, por más doloroso que sea debe ocurrir, es parte de la vida y de las relaciones. DICEN QUE SI QUIERES A ALGUIEN DEBES DEJARLE MARCHAR, SÍ, EL AUTOR, AÚN SABIENDO QUE NO ESTARÍA ETERNAMENTE CON BÚHO, YA LO NECESITABA EN SU DÍA, ERA PARTE DE SU FAMILIA. Al pasar las estaciones, y conforme las ausencias de búho eran más notables y prolongadas, y al permanecer en las mismas montañas de verano pero en un refugio natural construido para él, llega un momento en el cual predomina la libertad sobre el cariño, cómo cuando marchamos del hogar para aprender por nosotros mismos.
El final del diario es simplemente demoledor y delicado, haciendo buen uso de la metáfora del final del último estío con Búho y el comienzo de un nuevo camino para los dos, además de verdad, pues el autor refleja y reflexiona acerca su circunstancia personal coincidente a tres bandas. Todo pasa por algo, y todo viene junto, lo bueno y lo malo.

ASÍ PUES, UNA NARRACIÓN PERSONALÍSIMA A MODO DE DIARIO, ENCANTADORA, DELICADA PERO REALISTA, ADEMÁS DE UN CUADERNO DE ESTUDIO DETALLADO DE LA ACTIVIDAD DE UN BÚHO, BIEN ARGUMENTADO Y DOCUMENTADO SOBRE SU CRIANZA, EVOLUCIÓN Y DESTETE HUMANO.
UN LIBRO QUE CREO BIEN PUEDE GUSTAR A CASI TODO EL MUNDO, POR SU PARTICULARIDAD Y ENCANTO PERSONALIZADO.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the time, I was helping care for a very injured great horned owl at the nature center where I now work. It was an incredibly strong bird with an intense stare and a grip like the proverbial vice. (I say this, even though I’ve never put my hand in a vice, but I have been gripped by a scared great horned owl, so my comparison is purely hypothetical.)

When I discovered Bernd Heinrich’s “One Man’s Owl,” I had to read it. The book details the author’s rescue of an orphan great horned owlet knocked from its nest in a snowstorm. He then was forced to raise it to adulthood—mostly by feeding it roadkill—and train it to be wild. Not an easy task, because once a wild animal has been fed by humans, they can quickly abandon their hunting skills. Growing up naturally, young great horned owls are taught to hunt by their parents. In this case, Heinrich had to be the teacher. But where do you begin?

Heinrich is a professor of biology at the University of Vermont. This is a wonderful book, written by one of the best scientist writers working today.

[Katharine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this account of Heinrich's raising of a great horned owl, Bubo, who had tumbled from his nest during a snowstorm. Heinrich is a naturalist, who truly lives by his convictions. He spends part of the year living in a small, rustic cabin, called Kerflunk, in the Maine woods. It is where he seems to feel most at home. Bubo and Heinrich establish a very close bond. So close that Bubo shortened some guests' visits, by dive-bombing them whenever they ventured outside Kerflunk. The text is accompanied by some delightful photographs of Bubo as a fluffy owlet, of Bubo taking baths in a pond, and of Bubo, fully grown and looking quite competent and fierce after Heinrich painstakingly teaches him how to hunt. This book will be enjoyed by all age groups.

[Genine Franklin-Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this several days ago, neglected to put it on my currently reading list until now, when I went to list it as finished. I enjoy most books about animals and this was no exception. The great horned owl was rescued after he fell from the nest (where his siblings remained.) I didn't see him as being kept as a pet, although he was kept inside initially and slowly weaned to the outside and to hunting and living on his own.

I look forward to reading more by this author.

[Bonny · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Man's Owl is a highly readable account of the author's experiences raising a rescued great horned owl chick. The book is an excellent combination of scientific information, observations, and details along with the personal, anecdotal, and even philosophical.

There may be a slight bit of digression into wordiness, but if you ever wanted to know almost anything about owls, Heinrich has written it here.

Book Bingo 2016 - With an animal as a key character

[Trish Graboske · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frustratingly, Goodreads does not list the version I read, which is the original, complete 1987 edition from Princeton University Press. It is extremely interesting to see how Mr Heinrich studies nature, by close observation of everything that an animal does. He also writes very well, but I knew that from years of reading his columns in Natural History magazine.

[Mark Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heinrich's account of his time spent with Bubo is a cross between a journal and a scientific paper. His observations are acute and his understanding grows over time. The antics of Bubo and two crows that join the family are educational and amusing. A great read for the naturalists among us.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Bernd Heinrich, but most of his nature books are a bit slow going. This one, about him rearing a great horned owlet, is interesting, funny, and a great read.

[John Mulholland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read about dependence between aman and an owl

[Janet Mahlum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I collect owls, not live ones, of course, but owls on towels and sheets, owl mugs, owl cookie jar, owl chalk board, owl etc. Also, my youngest brother had a South American Savannah hawk for a number of years so I understand the logistics of keeping a predator bird. I have dozens of amazing stories about Savannah. A friend and co-volunteer at the library donated books section had this book come across her desk and passed it on to me to read and return. Some of the book I liked very, very much, some not so much. I found it informative and interesting. Another plus factor in my enjoyment is that Maine is one of the few states I haven't been to yet and it is on my bucket list. I really enjoyed reading about being in the Maine woods. I fell in love with Bubo and found he reminded me a lot of dogs and cats that have been in my life.

[Ginger Hatcher · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author takes an owlet into his care justifying it as he’s a scientist and can get away with it. He projects emotion onto the bird and at the end of the journal entries 3.5 years later the bird is finally ‘free’ - I would have given the book 3⭐️ for that, but at the very end there’s a note that says what to do if you find baby birds and after the standard ‘return the bird to its nest’ and how to make a nest with an empty berry container, the final option is to take it home and care for it yourself. 🤦🏻‍♀️ I realize this book was written in the 80s, but I also believe there were wildlife agencies available to call even then.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

The recommendation that this book is appropriate for grader 4-6 is a bit misleading. While elementary kids can surely read and enjoy this book, adults will find it a worth their time. I mean who wouldn't like to hear a personal story, filled with naturalist's insights from an expert? It's just great story-telling.

I'll be passing it on to my grandchildren and loo forward to discussing it with them.

[Kathleen Mckeown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Bernd Heinrich has led an extraordinary life. This book covers three summers at his Maine hunting cabin with Bubo the great horned owl he found upside down in the snow as an owlet. Bernd’s relationship with Bubo, and later his two pet crows is told in a diary format. Along the way you get snippets of Bernd’s “other” life, but also a fascinating look at nature in all its forms.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bernd's relationship with the owl he rescued is fascinating, informative, and touching. As a biologist It takes a special kind of person to make something like this work, including passion for learning and the creatures of our planet, patience, compassion, observation skills. He has the goods, and the generosity and writing skill to share his discoveries in a very engaging way. Highly recommended for folks who enjoy accounts of direct observation of, and personal connection with, animals.

[John Fredrickson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a decent read, but not terribly exciting or enlightening. The story is a chronicle of an owl (and its 'owner' Heinrich) that is rescued and raised, ultimately to be returned to the wild. Heinrich studies the bird and its behavior while it matures over time, and has amusing experiences as it does so.

[Leo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as his raven books, but charming and mildly informative nonetheless.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy read that kept me interested from beginning to end. The understated hero ended up being Bunny the cat!

[Corban · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that made Bean fall in love with great-horned owls. A scientist journals about his discovery of an owlet and how he nurses it back to health. This book has Charlotte Mason written all over it. It really brings the topic to life through the author's drawing of Bubo and documentation of what he does over 3 years (and his increasing love for him during that time). This is by far the most advanced book I've ever seen Bean read. Amazon lists it for grades 4 to 6 and ages 9 and up. He actually hasn't finished it yet with about 10 pages left. I think he's is stalling because he does't want it to end!

[Joanne Roach-Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read by Bernd Heinrich and I'm finding that I really enjoy his writing!
This "diary" is so easy to read and Heinrich brings everything to life with his engaging descriptions. The photos and drawings add so much richness to this book. It's a lot of fun to learn about Great Horned owls though his eyes and knowledge. At the end of the book he also includes advice on how to keep a nature diary which is very exciting for any budding naturalist!

[Corrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah books about raptors... I read this book quite quickly, but had a hard time with the pet-like nature of the owl for the author. I about died as he described another man who allows the public to touch, hug, and have pda with another owl... all in the name of education... mmmhmm. Still, if you like owls, this is worth a read.

[Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides]

Someone linked me to a picture from this book. Then I had to find out where the picture was from — initially this blog entry, but ultimately from this book. And the quoted excerpts led me to conclude this was something I needed to read.

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

absolutely delightful! but it's Bernd Heinrich, so what do you expect? I read the unabridged edition from 1987 (calling it "unabridged" makes me laugh because it's only 224 pages!) - if you can read the whole thing, I recommend it.

[Élan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was a very good book with nice, descriptive details of the owls and Heinrich's past experiences. Bubo, the owl in the book is so cute! I can just picture him in my mind. There is also real lovely scientific information of the owls.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging story of the author's time with an owl he raises from a chick through three seasons. First rate science book! Satisfyingly, it is written with both the tone of an investigator and friend.

[Maris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A somewhat selfish memoir of a man who used science as an excuse to keep a pet great horned owl. Cute anecdotes about the owl growing up abound, but its intent as "research" is really quite pathetic.