Owls of the World: Their Lives, Behavior and Survival Book

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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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