Natural History Wanderings

from Golden Gate Bird Alliance

With their forward gaze and quiet flight, owls are often a symbol of wisdom, knowledge, and foresight. But what does an owl really know? And what do we really know about owls? Some 260 species of owls reside on every continent except Antarctica, but they are far more difficult to find and study than other birds because they are cryptic, camouflaged, and mostly active at night. Jennifer Ackerman explores the biology and natural history of owls and examines new scientific discoveries about their brains and behavior.

Jennifer Ackerman has been writing about nature and science for three decades. Her latest book, “What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds” is a New York Times bestseller. Her previous books include “The Genius of Birds” (2016) and “The Bird Way” (2020).