The Owl Who Liked Sitting on Caesar: Living with a Tawny Owl

Historian Windrow (The French Foreign Legion) reminisces on 16 years living with “Mumble,” his pet tawny owl, and provides a scientific and historical background on the charming creatures. He covers the basic necessities of owl ownership: explaining building her enclosure, complete with “Double-Reciprocating Owl Valve”; diet; and dealing with “a fair amount of owl crap.”Drawing from diary entries, Windrow tracks Mumble’s developments like changes in calls and flight skills and the turmoil of molting season. Described as a “cat with wings,” Mumble has her flaws, including “unquenchable lust” for shoelaces, aggressive behavior with guests, and bringing “certain death to houseplants.” Windrow gives an anatomy lesson and outlines the tawny’s life in the wild—a harrowing battle for territory and prey that results in short life expectancy—as well as their nesting and fledgling process. In amusing anecdotes, Windrow recalls luring Mumble back inside in the middle of the night after an escape and later her disgruntled reaction to a wild suitor outside the apartment. While Windrow might have benefited from greater concision, this is a heartfelt and heartbreaking testament to humans’ love for their animal companions and the ways they enrich our lives. Photos and illus. Agent: Ian Drury, Sheil Land Associates. (June)