Foreword
Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Nature of Owls
- Feathers - Structure and Function
- Color Variations in Owls
- Reversed Sexual Size Dimorphism
- Vision
- Eye and Skull Structure
- The Owl Eye in More Detail
- Ears and Hearing
- Feet, Toes and Talons
- Digestion - Owl Pellets
- Owl Hunting and Caching Behavior
- Behavior
- Breeding Strategies
- The Classification of Owls
- The Evolution of Owls
- The Range Limits of Owls
- Biogeography
Invited contributions:
- What's in a Name? DNA Sequencing and the Classification of Owls (by John Penhallurick)
- Discovery of a New Owl Species -- The Sumba Hawk Owl (by Jerry Olsen and Susan Trost)
- Strangers in the Dark: Hybridization between Owl Species (by Heimo Mikkola)
Chapter 2: Owls in Mythology and Culture
by Bruce Marcot and David Johnson
- Introduction
- Symbols Old and New
- Markers of Gods, Knowledge, Dread, Wisdom and Fertility
- The Spirit Chasers
- Owls in Literature and Paintings
- Towards a Tolerant Conservation
- Conclusion
Chapter 3: The Study of Owls
- Owl Behavior
- Population Dynamics -- Predator-Prey Studies
- Owl Pellets and Diet Studies
- Nesting Biology
- Owl Banding
- Longevity Records
- Calculating Longevity
- A Sample of Owl Studies
Invited contributions:
- Female Desertion in Southern Boobooks (by Jerry Olsen and Susan Trost)
- To Catch an Owl (by Robert Nero)
- The Snowy Owls of Wrangle Island (by Irina Menyushina)
- Snowy Owl Migrants in New England (by Norman Smith)
- The Mystery of the Asio Owls on the Saskatchewan Prairies (by C. Stuart Houston)
- Color Variation in Owls: Albinism and Melanism (by Heimo Mikkola)
Chapter 4: Threats to Owls
- Accidents
- The Perils of Flight
- Road Mortality
- Pesticides, Shooting and Trapping
- Predation and Competition
- Habitat Loss
- Invasive Alien Species
- Owls in Captivity
- The Threat of "Postmodern" Conservation Strategies
- Ignorance as a Threat
Invited contributions:
- Causes of Owl Mortality in Canada (by Ted Leighton and Tyler Stitt)
- The Plight of Burrowing Owls in Winter (by Geoff Holroyd, Helen Trefry, Enrique Valdez and Jerry Batey)
- Salvaged Bounty -- Owl Ectoparasites (by Terry Galloway)
Chapter 5: A World for Owls
- Introduction
Invited contributions:
- Adventures with Saskatchewan Great Horned Owls (by C. Stuart Houston)
- Precious Moments -- Why Filming Owls is Worth the Effort (by Jeff Hogan)
- The Ural Owls and Forest Management in Japan: A Conservation Solution (by Aki Higuchi)
- A Wilderness Experience -- Studying the Backcountry Boreal Owl (by Gregory and Patricia Hayward)
- Bringing Back the Barn Owl in Ontario (by Bertn Solymár)
- Remaining Choices -- Understanding the Needs of Injured Owls (by Katherine McKeever)
Conclusion
Chapter 6: Owls of the World, Their Global Conservation Status and General Distribution
A brief summary of 205 owl species, some with photographs and identified by the owl's common and scientific name. Each summary includes:
- Description
- Habitat and Range Map
- Conservation Status
List of Contributors
Selected Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Index
