Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl

by Stacey O'Brien

On Valentine's Day 1985, biologist Stacey O'Brien first met a four-day-old baby barn owl -- a fateful encounter that would turn into an astonishing 19-year saga. With nerve damage in one wing, the owlet's ability to fly was forever compromised, and he had no hope of surviving on his own in the wild. O'Brien, a young assistant in the owl laboratory at Caltech, was immediately smitten, promising to care for the helpless owlet and give him a permanent home. Wesley the Owl is the funny, poignant story of their dramatic two decades together. With both a tender heart and a scientist's eye, O'Brien studied Wesley's strange habits intensively and first-hand -- and provided a mice-only diet that required her to buy the rodents in bulk (28,000 over the owl's lifetime). As Wesley grew, she snapped photos of him at every stage like any proud parent, recording his life from a helpless ball of fuzz to a playful, clumsy adolescent to a gorgeous, gold-and-white, macho adult owl with a heart-shaped face and an outsize personality that belied his 18-inch stature. Stacey and Wesley's bond deepened as she discovered Wesley's individual personality, subtle emotions, and playful nature that could also turn fiercely loyal and protective -- though she could have done without Wesley's driving away her would-be human suitors! O'Brien also brings us inside the prestigious research community, a kind of scientific Hogwarts where resident owls sometimes flew freely from office to office and eccentric, brilliant scientists were extraordinarily committed to studying and helping animals; all of them were changed by the animal they loved. As O'Brien gets close to Wesley, she makes important discoveries about owl behavior, intelligence, and communication, coining the term "The Way of the Owl" to describe his he did not tolerate lies, held her to her promises, and provided unconditional love, though he was not beyond an occasional sulk. When O'Brien develops her own life-threatening illness, the biologist who saved the life of a helpless baby bird is herself rescued from death by the insistent love and courage of this wild animal. Enhanced by wonderful photos, Wesley the Owl is a thoroughly engaging, heartwarming, often funny story of a complex, emotional, non-human being capable of reason, play, and, most important, love and loyalty. It is sure to be cherished by animal lovers everywhere.

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

241 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 19, 2008

Reviews

[Chrissie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know if this should have 4 or 5 stars. Amazing literature - no. Amazing subject matter - yes. I do believe the author's message is correct. Anybody who believes that animals and people really can communicate with each other, can experience a very strong loving relationship with each other, should read this book. Communication and understanding does not have to occur through "talk". If you live with an animal for many years you come to understand just by looking at each other what the other one wants to commmunicate. You don't always know how you know, but you know. I think today we know very little about the thinking and emotional capabilities of other animals. We have a lot to learn.

I loved the chapter about the characters at Caltech. About Feyneman too! I loved the chapter entitled "15 years of Trust". I think Stacey very well expressed Wesley's chatter, turning his chirps into words that correctly expressed Wesley's message. Stacey and Wesley definitely could communicate.

Heck, I am giving it 5 stars! I thoroughly enhoyed the book.

[Elyse Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook….read by Renee Raudman
6 hours and 52 minutes

…A HUGE HUGE *****HUGE***** TREAT!!!
…I LOVED IT!!!! (thank you, Lisa)! >
It was LisaVegan’s review that inspired me!!
Thanks, Lisa.
You know me well!!

It’s……
…WONDERFULLY HOOT-HOOT -AMAZING!!!

For readers (like me)…who know ‘next-to-nothing’ about this book, I PROMISE….it will exceed all your expectations.
Even people who don’t have much passion (one-way-or-another), for animals - pets - or other living creatures ….. or memoirs in general…..
this book will move you beyond words.

It’s fantastic on so many levels. And it’s so darn heartwarming to read such an interesting, inspiring story

Stacey O’Bien is not only an educated biologist, but she’s a terrific storyteller.

Even those readers who think you don’t want to read (or listen), to this book
[“couldn’t be THAT good—-couldn’t add anything that valuable to my life, and there couldn’t be enough for ‘me’]…..
will turn out to be pleasantly, ecstatically wrong!!!

Besides great insights into animal behaviors….
and reality-educational lessons of the amount of time, energy, and money, involved in caring for a pet …..it’s the relationship between Stacey and Wesley that stands out.
The love….always THE LOVE!!!

note: thank you to the doctors at Kaiser Permanente (my hospital too)….for the care they gave (our wonderful author)….Stacey O’Brien when she needed it.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
…..ha, (not surprised)….there are 1,337 - 5-star ratings on Amazon!!! So FULLY DESERVED!!!

[Li'l Owl · Rating 4 out of 5]

If there ever was a book for owl lovers this is it! It's a truly endearing and educating book. Stacy O'Brien, a biology research student specializing in wild animal behavior, has an opportunity to hand raise a baby barn owl. Wesley was born with nerve damage in one wing, making it impossible for him to survive in the wild. This is not something that she takes lightly as the baby, only four days old, will imprint on her and be 100% dependant on her for everything, 24/7, for his entire life.
There were so many fascinating scientific facts about barn owls that were really astonishing to me! Here's one of my favorites that I didn't know. Stacy explains
Like all barn owls, the baby smelled like maple syrup but not as sweet, something closer to butterscotch and comfy pillow all in one. Many biologists at Caltech, where I both worked and took classes, would bury their faces in there owls necks to breathe in their delicate, sweet smell. It was intoxicating.

Being the owl lover that I am, there are many reasons why they are my favorite. Like this one.
Stacy writes about one amazing fact about owls that sets them apart.
Owls ears are irregularly placed, one high one low on the head to triangulate sounds and a heart shaped, satalite dish face which turns sounds to pictures in it's brain. These traits allow owls to home in on the heartbeat of mice even under three feet of snow. This is an astonishing feature that shows just how capable nature is in providing exactly what owls need to hunt mice in any weather conditions. It's extremely important to their survival as mice are the only food owls eat. How does an owl catch mice under three feet of snow? Watch this video and be prepared to be amazed!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yps7pgq...

Another trait that I love about owls is that
they are playful, inquisitive, and creative. Stacy gives readers one example of just how creative they can be as they often make up their own games. One owl at the research facility was found playing a game that he had invented. He was found "Throwing a pencil off the desk himself, twisting in the air to get a good angle, then pouncing on the pencil.

In addition to all the science, research, and behavioral information Stacy writes about she also gives us an ongoing look at just how complicated her life became from the first day she agreed to raise Wesley. Like how he had to learn to walk instead of fly due to his damaged wing. It's quite humorous and entertaining, even a little sad. Life raising an owl is risky business as they are very fragile and sensitive creatures. It takes exceptional capabilities and uttermost care for an owl to survive in captivity which I could appreciate even more than ever through Stacy's experiences as she raises Wesley.

Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl by Stacey O'Brien was both educating and engaging but it also brought out an entire myriad of thoughts and emotions for me that I wasn't expecting. All in a good way.
Stacy gives readers a wealth of information through the eyes of a biologist in an enlightening setting which keeps the science from being dry or boring. As a specialist in animal behavior, Stacy shows us a view of life from an owls perspective, or at least as much as we as humans could ever understand how an owl views the world.
If you like owls you'll enjoy this book.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

When several of my Goodreads’ friends claimed that everyone would love this book, I assumed that statement was hyperbole, even though I was interested in reading it, but now I see why they said that. I’m sure there are many readers who, in fact, would not like this book, but I think most people will appreciate and be smitten by it. I’m surprised that there aren’t more 5 star ratings at Goodreads; only 33% gave it 5 stars and only another 37% gave it 4 stars. I loved it and it definitely deserves 5 stars from me.

Oh my goodness. This book is written by the niece of Cubby from the original Mouseketeers. ;-) And when she was a child her father was friends with Richard Feynman. And from the age of eight, she regularly heard Jane Goodall speak and was inspired by her.

I’m 100% fine with barn owls eating whole mice, no qualms at all, but I’m not destined to be an owl mommy. I couldn’t have taken those thousands of mice (given or alive to be killed) or some of the injuries inflicted. So, I’m glad I got this chance to have some of the experience vicariously through reading this book. As I read a part of me was envious of Stacey but I think as far as sharing my life with animals, dogs and cats are what I long for; if I knew horses they might be included.

So much of this book was hilarious, and some was touching. This is such an engaging and delightful account, I could have inhaled the book all at one time; it took me 3 days to read only because I had to (very reluctantly) put it down to do other things.

She mentions the word vegan (definitely not for owls!) and one of my all time favorite books Never Cry Wolf, and the Harry Potter books too, the latter several times.

It’s generally beautifully written so the rare grammatical error was really glaring, but I happily skipped right over those and didn’t care a whit because the true story was so riveting.

I was a bit perplexed a few times, as the author/owl mother seemed to not know certain things about owls but seemed to be learning on the job so much of the time, more as an adoptive mom than as a professional who I’d have thought would know the biology. Once again, I didn’t really care.

In addition to Wesley and Stacey’s story, there are many fascinating bits of information about owls and other creatures, including facts gotten from biology research, historically and currently. I love biology, but even if I hadn’t had an interest, I can’t imagine not being interested in Wesley. I was fascinated by all the extra information. There was just the right amount about Wesley and Wesley and Stacey (most of the book), Stacey, other animals domestic and wild, general biology and research information, history, etc. etc. I don’t think it could have been done better.

I have to take the author’s word. All the photos were wonderful, but I can’t read Wesley’s expressions or body language. But, the photos throughout the book are wonderful, though I’d have loved them in color. Only the 2 cover illustrations are in color.

I’m completely sympathetic re never releasing infirm birds but uncomfortable with her anti-animal rights movement stance, especially with regard to experimentation on animals for human benefit, when I believe there is negligible benefit. Also, the God/spiritual stuff was not my cup of tea. However, none of that matters: I like the book too much.

And I’m glad to hear someone who’s had a positive experience with Kaiser.

This is a special book. I’ve already recommended it to a few friends, and my book club has talked about reading it and I think it would be a good choice for us so maybe someday. It’s poignant and sweet, but I was especially taken with how amusing it is. I frequently laughed out loud.

I’m so glad some of the members of my Goodreads’ Comfort Reads group decided to read this as a buddy read because I finally got it off my to read shelf. I loved it more than I’d anticipated.

I’m gushing and not completely coherent, but you get the idea.

Some additional notes to self: Love the not for owls/not for babies, and rare use of the word no. Mouse in mouth/having to pretend to eat a mouse a day. the trust and love were amazing, in both directions.

There are so many priceless scenes. The time when Wesley waits (not so patiently) for Stacey to open the door for him will certainly feel like a familiar scene to anybody who's ever had a dog or cat companion.

[Jeanette (Ms. Feisty) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! The author has a great sense of humor, and shares a lot of her knowledge about owls, which I found fascinating. The first few chapters are especially funny. I had to put the book down a few times just to laugh til my face hurt. You can't leave an owlet with a "babysitter," because he will screech and squawk the whole time at an ear-piercing level. So she took him with her on a first date with a guy she'd been really hot for.

Wesley was a barn owl who had nerve damage in one of his wings. Although he could fly, he never would have the stamina to catch the prey necessary to live in the wild. The author was a biologist at a Caltech lab where they studied and rehabbed owls and other birds. She made the commitment to be Wesley's "mom," and took him home when he was just a fluffball. It turned out to be a 19-year commitment.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“To that which you tame, you owe your life.”

We have a very large cypress tree in our front yard. Years ago, an owl took up residence in the tree. His presence was quite known in the neighborhood, in that for approximately 14 years, he ruled that cypress tree. Sadly, one morning we were awakened by a loud thumping sound. When we went to investigate, we saw that our owl had fallen from the tree and had passed. We are almost certain that he probably died in his sleep. We felt as if a family member had passed, he had been such a part of our life for so long. We especially enjoyed his “hoot.” And, appreciated what his presence brought to the neighborhood. Was this my mini-experience of the “Way of the Owl?”

I bring this up, because this extraordinary personal experience has kept me fascinated about the nature of owls, and their relationships with humans. So, when this book was donated to my Little Free Library Shed, I knew I had to read it.

“When humans and animals understand, love, and trust each other, the animals flourish and we humans are enlightened and enriched by the relationship.”

This is the story of the author and Wesley, the Barn Owl that she raised from a young hatchling. Unfortunately for Wesley, he was born with a defective wing which made it impossible for him to hunt on his own. And, having someone like O’Brien to be there for him made a considerable difference. Especially since the local zoo and research center couldn’t take him. It helped that O’Brien was an owl researcher at Cal Tech, so Wesley became her “assignment.” What could she learn about this owl and his development that could help the scientists? And, at the same time provide a quality-of-life experience for Wesley.

And, as anyone can guess, Wesley became more than an assignment for O’Brien. There is a bonding that occurs between Wesley and his human caregiver. His girl.

“It was an owl hug. I hoped he would do it again. He did, and this vulnerable position became his new way of cuddling. I never got over the wonder of it and I often felt tears stinging my eyes. This complicated wild soul had stretched his golden wings over me in complete trust. I wouldn’t trade those moments for anything in the world. Not for anything in the world.”

The author shares a lot of what it takes to care for owls in general. She also gives insights into her own workday. There is much to gain from reading on both levels – especially when it characterizes the various relationships – between the humans she worked with, as well as the animal’s relationships with the humans.

Wonderfully written with some pictures throughout, readers will most likely feel that sense of intimacy that occurs when both the animal and human love, trust and respect one another. In this way, I believe the author got her point across beautifully about the preciousness of this relationship, especially when she had her own personal medical crisis.

I have no doubt that readers will feel the emotion when it comes to Wesley’s life and ultimate passing. Kleenex will be needed at this part.

[Margitte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wesley was a man. An Owl man. A hunter. A protector. A fierce protector of his missus! He demanded his story to be told. The book blurb says it all. I won't try to improve on it.



What I can add is that Wesley kept me enchanted and mesmerized. He had character and a sense of humor. He was wise, loyal and highly intelligent.

I have read this book several years ago. It was a surprising gift from an American friend and I never knew it was going to be such a great delight in my life. The book is so precious to me that I don't even show it to my book buddies here in my valley. This book has the potential to fly away and I simply won't risk that!
:-)



Wesley was an injured owl, adopted by biologist Tracy O'Brien and brought to her home to allow her 24/7 observation time of him. It would become a a 19-year intense love affair between a bird and his human girl. A fascinating, and often funny, tale.

"Wesley changed my life. He was my teacher, my companion, my child, my playmate, my reminder of God. Sometimes I even wondered if he was actually an angel who had been sent to live with me and help me through all the alone times. He comforted me, many times I cried into his feathers and told him my troubles and he tried to understand. He listened and cuddled with me.

He chose to sit on my pillow while I napped and he washed his face when I washed mine. He tried to feed me his mice and make me his mate. He created hundreds of nests for me. He joyfully poured out his live in loud exclamations and had boisterous opinions about everything. He kept a running commentary on all that happened in our lives, in his owl language. He brought us wild owls to the bedroom window with his joyful and jubilant sounds...We were happy together

This summary by the author are vividly expanded upon in the book in fascinating detail. For me it was a confirmation of an idea we had to build owl houses in the garden for the multitude of owl species roaming our mutual environment. Owls have become popular with many institutions here in our country. The harbor authorities established a huge number of owl houses to keep the mice population at bay. Cities with high rodent populations encouraged schools and other NGOs to adopt owls and build them houses for the same purpose.

So this book was more than just a good read. It taught us so much about owls. And loyalty and love. I am not surprised that it became a bestseller on both the New York Times and Los Angeles Times Bestseller's lists. It says something about society which we can be proud of.

[Diamond Cowboy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about the raising of a Barn owl from almost inphantcy. The love shared betwene the owner and the owl was touching.
I enjoyed this book and learned a lot.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

***NO SPOILERS***

For nineteen years Stacey O'Brien cared for an unlikely pet: a barn owl whose injured wing meant he'd never be able to thrive in the wild. This is a heartwarming, amusing, and most of all, fascinating account of one biologist's experience studying a wild owl in the closest way possible—by sharing her own home (and oftentimes pillow) with him over the course of his entire lifespan. The experience affected her profoundly.

Even for readers not especially interested in owls or who don't normally like animal stories, this book is difficult not to enjoy. O'Brien wrote this in an easy, conversational style, as if talking to a close friend, while generously interspersing her personal narrative with intriguing facts about owls. In one section she details how raising a barn owl complicates her dating life, then a few paragraphs later explains that owls evolved to live in tree hollows because unlike other birds, they don't have waterproof feathers.

The book is grounded in hard, scientific facts, which never ceased to interest; however, what captivated me most was this passage:

Some scientists believe that animals may use some sort of mental telepathy to beam picture thoughts to communicate with each other, and experiments indicated that it does work between humans and certain animals [...] Some researchers are also accumulating empirical evidence that animals use a form of telepathy to communicate with and understand us [...] Several experiments showed that some dogs can tell when their owners are about to come home, even without the cues that people had thought the animals were associating with their arrival, such as the sound of the car, the time of day, or footsteps.

O'Brien details how she used this kind of mental communication to get Wesley to cooperate when it was of utmost importance to trim his beak and talons. She was stunned the telepathy worked.

Veering off the topic of Wesley to the broader subject of animals in general, O'Brien further explains that increasingly, animal trainers are replacing traditional negative reinforcement (such as using force against an animal and yelling) with this telepathy technique. I found this to be the most forward-thinking section in the entire book and possibly the most important.

As far as animal-themed stories go, Wesley the Owl stands out because of its appeal to a wide variety of readers. Its even-handed, and lively, focus on both animal biology and the relationship between O'Brien and Wesley would entertain both the biology geek and the animal lover. Here's a book that's neither dryly scientific nor emotionally manipulatively and cutesy.

Additionally, like James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small, Wesley the Owl contains many genuinely hilarious, truth-is-stranger-than-fiction moments, and, like Herriot, O'Brien is likable. It's impossible not to like someone so unabashedly honest—from being jolted awake by Wesley attempting to feed her a mouse to toting around a baby owl (plus dead mice) on a first date, O'Brien holds back nothing.

I felt shocked, then amused, repulsed, sad, puzzled, then shocked all over again. The book shines because of O'Brien's willingness to share each vivid detail. Her fervent desire to pass along her fascination with owls is evident from page one, and by the final page she's more than achieved this goal.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wesley the Owl: the story of biologist Stacey O'Brien and her adoption of a 4 day old baby barn owl. The book is a retelling of the 19 years spent caring and loving for this animal and of the love and bond the two of them shared.

My favorite line from this book:

'Live your life not by staying in the shallow, safer waters, but by wading as deep into the river of life as possible, no matter how dangerous the current. We have only one chance at this life.'

I have this abnormally large soft spot in my heart for animals and this novel really did a number on that spot. Going into this book I understood the story line and as it can be expected this also included the retelling of Wesley's final days. The bond that this woman shared with Wesley was so amazing and touching and heartbreaking in the end. I was in tears. This may not have been a novel of literary genius, but the story and the message was beautiful.

[``Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all animal stories and accordingly fell in love with Wesley the Owl.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wesley the Owl

Stacey O’Brien wrote this memoir soon after sharing 19 years of her life with Wesley. She named him. She raised him from a tiny owlet. He was hers, but it could be best said, like the subtitle, that she was his. There’s no denying that substantial bonds can exist between a human and an animal. Bonding to dogs and cats, those are the obvious. I would not have thought it to be true for a wild owl. O’Brien proved that it is more than possible. In truth, their relationship should not be compared with that of a domesticated dog, and it is not as if anyone could raise an owl. Stacey is a biologist, and that basically means she knows what she’s doing. While starting her career as a young assistant in the owl laboratory at Caltech, she was asked to personally care for the baby owl with a nerve damaged wing. I don’t think even she could have known the task that lay ahead. If a person was called for a certain purpose in life, then this was hers.

Why did I read listen to this book? I happened to come across it while browsing CD books at the library, and just look at the little owl’s face on the cover. Add in the fact that I love a good animal story, and then I noticed that the person spent 19 years caring for this owl! How does that happen? (see answer above).

Sidebar: A couple years past I noticed an owl on a low tree branch in my backyard. This was during daylight hours, and the owl was tottering on that branch like it was about to fall off. Plus, his feathers looked a little strange. I thought for sure he was dying. Then, I noticed another owl on the chimney above. This one looked sure and watchful. I quickly put two-and-two together – Mama owl! Her full grown baby was learning to fly. Occasionally, I would see them in the treetops, on the roofs for a little while after that day. Sometimes she was carrying food in her talons for the boy to eat. Then they were gone. He'd learned to fly.

This memoir of those 19 years with Wesley had some funny moments, and some gross ones too. Each of those usually involved mice. Barn owls eat mice. A lot of mice when you add up those years. If you’re squeamish about stuff like that, then you may not like this one. Other interesting things were learned over time. The owl had adapted many un-owlish traits, and learned to communicate with his owner. He liked water, something a wild owl would barely touch. He gave small hugs too. All in all, it was a pretty good memoir. The ending got me. I knew it was coming. A sad ending. Stacey O’Brien was crushed, but she wouldn’t trade a single day of her time with Wesley.

”Wesley taught me the Way of the Owl. In the human world your value as a person is often intrinsically linked to your wealth or most recent accomplishment. But all the accoutrements of the world were stripped away from me when I got sick. Wesley made me realize that if all I had to give was love, that was enough. I didn't need money, status, accomplishment, glamour or many of the empty things we so value.”
― Stacey O'Brien

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, one thing I’ve learnt from this book is that if you want to adopt an owl it’s best to be a biologist, and experienced with working with birds, and be prepared to go to any lengths to keep it happy. Stacey was all of these things.

Wesley developed from being a fluffy ball of cuteness into being a fully mature adult male owl. He saw Stacey as his mate (in every sense of the word), and he really didn’t like other people very much at all. He was utterly endearing with Stacey though, giving her cuddles, making her nests, and trying to feed her mice.

Ahhh, the mice. Not a great bit of the book for me. Stacey sometimes had to kill these for Wesley, and my heart went out to them as she experimented with various ways of doing this humanely. Owls eat mice though. They don’t eat other stuff. It’s mice or nothing. So Stacey did what she had to do.

Wesley lived his life in her bedroom, tethered to a post. I know, it sounds absolutely alien and awful when you consider the lifestyle of a wild owl. Yet due to Stacey’s commitment and enthusiasm (lots of conversation, cuddles, games - magazines to rip up, letting him dunk himself joyfully in the bath....), it comes across that she really succeeded in giving him a good quality of life. I think Wesley was a happy owl.

Most of all I enjoyed the ways in which Wesley and Stacey communicated.... Never was this better illustrated than when she needed to file the beak and claws of the ageing Wesley. Simply through gentle talking, and showing Wesley examples of using a file on various things in the room, she was finally able to file down both his beak and his claws. It must have taken such trust on his part to let her do this, yet he did so without complaint. Not only were they able to communicate about practical things - they were also clearly able to convey their love to one another, and share a great mutual pleasure in play. Stacey was also very good at picking up on whenever Wesley felt distressed, and quick to find out what was the cause.

Towards the end of the book Stacey experiences some very serious medical problems. She reacted with much courage, and her relationship with Wesley was obviously a hugely important factor in keeping her going. I found this part of the book very moving.

Do read the ‘acknowledgements’ section at the end. It’s about all the help and encouragement she got from everyone to write the book. The writers’ groups, the innumerable edits she did over the phone with a friend, and just generally, how everyone piled in to help her. After all she had been through with her medical problems, she so deserved something nice. And that is what she got – because on the front cover of my edition it says “New York Times Bestseller”. Yaaaaay!

Note: There is an excellent You Tube video done by Stacey which is great introduction to the book.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite simply a beautiful book. I found that I was reading it slowly to enjoy it more.
No time now to write more but I have no problem giving this story a full 5 stars.

[La Crosse County Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally published on March 11, 2011

Most people have heard or read about Marley the dog, Dewey the library cat, or Secretariat the racehorse. Well, now it’s Wesley the Owl by Stacey O’Brien. Stacey is a biologist at Caltech in the owl laboratory.

When an injured baby owl is delivered to the site, Stacey’s professor asked her if she would consider raising him and of course, she said yes. This is not your typical owner/pet story because Stacey is a scientist and approached most of Wesley’s behavior as scientific data. She explains many facts about Barn Owls, such as their acute sense of hearing which makes them process sound rather than visual images. They are not a “flock” bird but live solitarily and fully devoted to one mate. Stacey would need to take him most places she went so it was a completely life-changing commitment.

Stacey and Wesley bonded from early on and were able to communicate human to bird. The bond was almost like a mother to child. She describes in humorous detail the way Wesley walked, sort of like E.T., the extraterrestrial. Wesley had nerve damage to a wing so was never supposed to be able to fly but surprisingly, his desire to learn and nature took over so he taught himself to take off. The landing part was more difficult. If Stacey laughed at his awkward landing, Wesley withdrew as though he was embarrassed. After all, his owl mother would have taught him to take off and land without laughing at him. This was her realization that he was exhibiting some animal emotion.

Owls are not attracted to water but Wesley liked the bathtub and learned to play in it like a birdbath. Wesley chortled and hissed in owl talk like a play-by-play commentator on TV describing all the events that Stacey was doing through the day. Amazingly, after many years, Stacey could understand most of his unique language. One of Stacey’s greatest moments was when Wesley snuggled on her chest and spread his wings over her like he was giving her an owl hug. Yes, Stacey really was this owl’s girl.

To find out more about Wesley the Owl, you can pick up a copy of this story in book or audiobook format at any of the La Crosse County libraries located in West Salem, Onalaska, Holmen, Campbell, and Bangor.

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[JC · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book one night intending to read just the first chapter before bed. I had to force myself to put it down at chapter six lest I miss out on a good night's sleep!

I've never been a bird person, but O'Brien's heartwarming account of her life with Wesley the Owl may make me a convert...for owls at least. O'Brien mixes scientific fact with personal anecdote in a way that is clear and compelling. By the end, you feel like you've learned something about owls, but most of all, you'll have experienced one owl's life in a unique way.

A tear or two escaped at the end. The Way of the Owl is not always happy, but it is rewarding.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've always had a fascination with owls. When I was growing up there was an owl that lived in the tree outside my bedroom window. I used to smile laying in bed waiting to drift off because I knew the soft hooting would never fail to lull me into a great restful sleep. That owl was my night time companion for a number of years.

I bought this book because I thought it would evoke some pleasant memories of "my" owl. Unfortunately the book sucked. The 2 revelations that hit the reader mid-book are; never have an owl for a pet, and that scientists that have owls for pets are freaking insane!

The author of the book (Stacey) was a research biologist. After the 5th chapter I realized that this woman was certifiable. She spent $30,000 over the life of the owl on live mice. She personally beheaded 30 live mice a day to feed him.... Jesus Christ! She allowed the owl to shit all over her house and basically wallowed in it and wondered why guys didn't want to date her. Not to mention that she and Wesley had this weird unhealthy relationship where the owl thought the scientist was his mate. (There is a passage that graphically decribes why... (DUDE! SHE HAD SEX WITH AN OWL! GROSS!!) As a result he would attack anyone that came close to Stacey. Crazy man, just plain crazy.

The book does warrant 2 stars for detailing useless discovery channel information about the lives and habits of owls. I mean, we all love Hedwig and Harry but I have never entertained the thought of actually owning a owl and this book confirmed that doing so was a very good idea indeed. Don't waste your time with this book, just think of your crazy Aunt (everyone has one) and imagine she owns an owl. Done, end of story.

[Tamora Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a girl and her owl. How could I resist? Stacy O'Brien was working in the Caltech biolabs when she was offered the chance to rear and report on a baby barn owl who had nerve damage in one wing and was not likely to survive in the wild. She hadn't done owls before, but she was more than willing to try, and took in the three-day-old owlet she named Wesley. She was in her early twenties.

The book is not only a series of funny anecdotes about life with an intelligent and proprietary predator. O'Brien fits in plenty of information about mishaps with visitors at the labs, information on barn owls and other owls, information on the California sea coast, and wild habitat problems in the state. But don't worry: there's plenty of fun. It was the segment in which she discovers Wesley is a boy that sold me on the book (there are few ways without surgery to sex a bid). There is Stacey's discovery that only a man who can live with her very territorial owl will do for her. And there is Wesley's comfort and help when Stacey becomes ill.

There is a sad ending--owls only live 15 years--but you can stop reading before then. The pictures aren't the best in paperback, but they do give you some of Wesley's charm, and the book is a wonderful, fun read!

[Doug Bradshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's easy to think of animals as simple creatures with various survival instincts built into their systems, certainly not capable of much more than eating, mating and surviving in their various habitats. But raise a baby owl and live full time with it and become its virtual mate, and it becomes apparent that there's way more going on in their brains and lives than imaginable. In fact, this owl Wesley communicates with the wonderful Stacey in almost every imaginable way including love, warmth, protection and physical warmth, hurt feelings, joy and the need to mate.

The relationship with animals may have been far more complicated and evolved in some civilizations in the past where in certain cases, animals may have been a lot more like part of the family than a work horse or a cute little fun pet.

I did think of the ways Wesley may have been almost too much of a companion and too much a part of Stacey's life so that she was unable to have regular relationships and have a family of her own. But she seemed more than happy with this the way it turned out and I had to love her for her ability to remain so singularly devoted to her life partner, Wesley the Owl, the angel sent from heaven to take care of her.

A fascinating and fun read.

[Ginny Messina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading about Stacey O’Brien’s experience in raising a barn owl. And, I learned a great deal about owls and about the challenges of living with an animal whose wild instincts can never be completely tamed.

The writing is not great, and sometimes it’s actually pretty bad, especially when the author recreates dialog. In some cases conversations are so awkwardly placed in an obvious attempt to make a particular point, that they sound like a very low-budget public service announcement. And the editing left a lot to be desired as well. (Isn’t it the editors’ job to make sure that clauses in long sentences are grammatically compatible?)

Those are the kinds of things that can make me feel very annoyed by a book. But honestly, the story is so darn interesting and heartwarming that I couldn’t give it any less than a 4-star rating. I know it’s a book that I’ll remember and think about often.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn't like owls? How can you not, they're majestic - like Kookaburras.

The first 100 pages flew by in 3 hours. Every time I saw a pic of Wesley I thought 'he's so fucking adorable!' And the author Stacey O'Brien is cute to boot too.

Such great stories and funny bits like the guy that came over and wanted to see Wesley but it had to be under the condition that he sit dead-still under a doona blanket with just his eyes peeping out. And Stacey left him there in the room, she went away for 45 minutes. Turns out Wesley knew exactly what was going on and flew straight to him and just stared in to this new stranger's eyes and hissed and intimidated him. Freaked him out and he never came back.

So well written, that Stacey should write more. Another book about Wes or her next owl if she has one, surely she must - she said she would adopt another wild barn owlet and build on her knowledge. If only she had gone to the doctor after fainting and having those narcoleptic episodes she might have caught the rare brain disorder and prevented it getting worse. I found it sad the fact that her grandma didn't tell her about the owl she had also secretly raised.

The stories at Caltech were great fun too. I wish she'd write a whole book just on that. The theoretical mathematicians living in the tunnels under the uni and affectionately called 'trolls' was fascinating.

The human-animal communication and rapport was amazing.

Recommend this to everyone and those that like this to read Rupert Sheldrake Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home & Other Unexplained Powers of Animals. And vice-versa. The author actually mentions the title of the book in passing, without actually saying it's a book, I wonder if she knew about it since it was published in 1999, surely she must have.

I am going to seek out more books like this. Alex the Grey Parrot would be interesting too. Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence—and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process. Not sure I'm keen on Marley & Me or the Lion called Richard book. Though the horse whisperer ones might be good. Cat ones? Forget it! Kill those fuckers ;-p

[Cranky Commentary (Melinda) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever met someone who was so colorful that you’ve told them, “You ought to write a book”? Well, Stacey O’Brien is one of those people. She’s a biologist who is also a musician and obviously a talented writer.

Wesley the Owl was a very interesting book. I learned a whole lot about barn owls. In fact, when they play Trivia at the local pub, if the subject is barn owls, I’ll be sure to take home the prize. 😁. All I have to do is wait for that subject to finally come around! 😄. I even ended up having to watch and listen to these owls online. They are very beautiful, but also very noisy!

I learned a lot about other animals as well. There are some very interesting facts in this book, especially regarding animal intelligence and communication, that I found very surprising. But most interesting of all, and sadly the species for which no research was done, was Stacey’s coworkers at Caltech! Maybe, hopefully, in the next book…I’ll be waiting.

All in all, a science-y, entertaining read.

[Lance Greenfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enchanting

There are already hundreds of reviews of this book on Goodreads, so I shan’t repeat the storyline for you. However, for those of you who have any feeling for the amazing stories of relationships between animals and humans, this is a “must read.”

Stacey and Wesley live their lives together from the time that the owl is four days old. They form such a very strong relationship that they converse with each other, and share each other’s emotions, happy and sad. The story is beautifully narrated, with sentiment, and it will make you laugh and it will make you cry.

Don’t hang about waiting for me to say any more. Go and get yourself a copy and read it. I can safely say that you are more likely to thank me for that recommendation than to curse me for it.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're interested in owls - or even if you're not - this is a terrific book. Solid 4.5 stars. Believe it or not, it's a real page-turner! It'll make you laugh, it'll make you cry, and you'll learn a ton in the process. Highly recommended non-fiction!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big thank you to one of my reading buddies, Lisa V, and others on Comfort Reads for suggesting I read this book. It was so wonderful that I need a few days before I can start another book.

Wesley is a 4 day old baby barn owl suffering nerve damage to one of his wings, hence he is unable to survive in his natural surroundings in the wild. Fortunately for Wesley he 'lands' at Caltech after being found on the ground by hikers. From Caltech, he is taken home by one of the biologists, Stacey O'Brien. What follows is the 19 year story of Wesley's life with 'his girl', Stacey.

Know that since it is the story of Wesley's life, he does pass in the end; that said, do not be hesitant to read the book. It is a wonderful journey of love, patience, respect and trust that every animal owner should share with their beloved pets. Chapter 14 "Fifteen Years of Trust" is a perfect example of what I mean; if you read the book, you will probably want to re-read that chapter once you've finished the book.

A personal message I got from this book takes place when Wesley passes away and Stacey hears soothing words from Wesley's vet, Dr. Coward, as she berates herself thinking she could have done more, as many of us animals lovers may have done:

"I had done the best I could do to make Wesley comfortable. I had protected him, kept him warm, fed him, made him feel safe and we made it to the end without anyone hurting him. We'd made it....I loved him completely."

If all of us who share our lives with animals can truly say that at the end, we must try to take some comfort in that when they leave us.

Perhaps the greatest joy of the story comes in the final chapter "After" when Stacey is writing this book and she sees a stuffed barn owl (which she buys, of course) in the window of the shop at her writer's group; and months later as she is working on the book in the library conference room, a great horned owl sits in a tree outside the window.

Don't forget to read the Acknowledgments at the end. This author is truly an amazing and gracious woman, to say nothing of her intelligence and compassion for "all living creatures with whom we share the earth." Thank you Stacey and Wesley for sharing your lives with me and for teaching me "the Way of the Owl."

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was filled with lots of interesting information about owls and barn owls in particular, but the human, emotional side of it made it that much better! Maybe I was feeling especially emotional when I read the book, but I just adored the book, the author and the owl! I would recommend this book to anyone who has a very special animal connection.

[Leila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story and well worth a read.

[Scottsdale Public Library]

A fun, charming, and surprisingly fascinating story about a biologist who adopts a baby barn owl and shares her life with him for the next 20 years. I generally have an aversion to both animals and science, yet this book managed to penetrate even my stone cold heart.

- Carrie M.

[The Captain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was recommended to me by Sara in response to me review of h is for hawk in me last muster. It is a memoir of Stacey O’ Brien about the two decades she lived with Wesley the Barn Owl. Stacey was a Caltech biologist when she adopted four day old Wesley. I listened to this audiobook in one sitting. It made me laugh out loud (a lot) and cry (a bit at the end). It made me heart happy. Ye get to learn fun animal facts, learn about the life of the author, and above all learn about the specific traits of Wesley. Who knew that barn owls could have such personality and leave such an impression. This was absolutely delightful and I am so grateful that Sarah brought this gem to me attention. I would certainly listen to this audio book again!

Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...

[Donnaleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, wow, wow. This is one of those books which, after you have completed it, you need a bit of recovery time to come back to the real world. This is so well written, and such a touching memoir. The author's dedication to this little guy for 19 years is outstanding. The synchronicities that happen in the author's life, those odd coincidences that seem to pop up with great meaning, are equally amazing and speak to the author's spiritual nature (this is not a religious book by any means, but the author's cords to the spiritual web of life are powerful).

This story is not just about an owl. It is about a journey of love, respect, and bonds. This book will make you laugh, it will make you say "awwwwww!", and it will make you cry. But more than anything, it will make you think. This book has a very playful writing style while still giving us the science of the owl in practical layman's terms.

Even as a birder myself who has studied wild birds for years, I learned so much, and loved so much through this book. Deeper into the book, the biologist author notices an ability to communicate telepathically with her owl in a certain way, and this is explored in one chapter, which is unusual for a book from a scientist's perspective (amazing and appreciated).

The audiobook version by Audible was narrated beautifully. The emotive skills of the narrator and her switch in voices helped keep the story refreshingly interesting.

I have forever fallen in love with Wesley. This is one of the rare books that made me hope that someday, I might be able to meet this author, as she is truly a remarkable woman with an incredible story to tell. Highly recommended, this book is a delightful opportunity to experience another's life through the eyes of deep, authentic love.

And here is where I'd like to extend a "thank you" to Stacey, the author, for having given so much of herself to this little fella and truly dedicating her spirit to his, not only in this book, but in his life. You were both very lucky to have found each other. May the world learn through your bonds...both scientifically as well as emotionally.


I can't stop thinking about Wesley. I've been changed.