Nonfiction

Owls of the Eastern Ice: A Quest to Find and Save the World's Largest Owl

Owls of the Eastern Ice: A Quest to Find and Save the World's Largest Owl

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  • Create Date：2021-06-29 06:51:35
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Jonathan C. Slaght
  • ISBN：125079871X
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Summary

A field scientist and conservationist tracks the elusive Blakiston's Fish Owl in the forbidding reaches of eastern Russia。

I saw my first Blakiston’s fish owl in the Russian province of Primorye， a coastal talon of land hooking south into the belly of Northeast Asia 。 。 。 No scientist had seen a Blakiston’s fish owl so far south in a hundred years 。 。 。

When he was just a fledgling birdwatcher， Jonathan C。 Slaght had a chance encounter with one of the most mysterious birds on Earth。 Bigger than any owl he knew， it looked like a small bear with decorative feathers。 He snapped a quick photo and shared it with experts。 Soon he was on a five-year journey， searching for this enormous， enigmatic creature in the lush， remote forests of eastern Russia。 That first sighting set his calling as a scientist。

Despite a wingspan of six feet and a height of over two feet， the Blakiston’s fish owl is highly elusive。 They are easiest to find in winter， when their tracks mark the snowy banks of the rivers where they feed。 They are also endangered。 And so， as Slaght and his devoted team set out to locate the owls， they aim to craft a conservation plan that helps ensure the species’ survival。 This quest sends them on all-night monitoring missions in freezing tents， mad dashes across thawing rivers， and free-climbs up rotting trees to check nests for precious eggs。 They use cutting-edge tracking technology and improvise ingenious traps。 And all along， they must keep watch against a run-in with a bear or an Amur tiger。 At the heart of Slaght’s story are the fish owls themselves: cunning hunters， devoted parents， singers of eerie duets， and survivors in a harsh and shrinking habitat。

Through this rare glimpse into the everyday life of a field scientist and conservationist， Owls of the Eastern Ice testifies to the determination and creativity essential to scientific advancement and serves as a powerful reminder of the beauty， strength， and vulnerability of the natural world。

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Reviews

Lauren Grimes ，

Perfect balance of science and storytelling。 Highly recommend。

Elise Ravenclaw ，

ExcellentI am not a biologist nor have I ever been particularly interested in owls or Russia， but previous good reviews for this book caught my eye。 I am glad I bought it。 This is an enjoyable and informative read。 It teaches you without being too technical or data heavy。 It is interspersed with anecdotes from life in the field that show the difficulties that a researcher has to deal with。 In hindsight the author is able to convey the funny side to them。The results are no doubt commendable and i ExcellentI am not a biologist nor have I ever been particularly interested in owls or Russia， but previous good reviews for this book caught my eye。 I am glad I bought it。 This is an enjoyable and informative read。 It teaches you without being too technical or data heavy。 It is interspersed with anecdotes from life in the field that show the difficulties that a researcher has to deal with。 In hindsight the author is able to convey the funny side to them。The results are no doubt commendable and important to preserving the habitat of the fish owls and other local species。 Highly recommended to everyone。 。。。more

Karen ，

The behind the scenes hard work that goes into science and field studies， carefully described and adventurous。 Plus wonderful owls。

Anne Strachan ，

Wonderful writing about the search for these amazing owls。 And an evocative description of the Russian landscape and people。

Sheri ，

A wonderful， wonderful book — an excellent example of a category I've loved for many years。 Lots of specific natural history and current information， set in a personal narrative with intriguing， complicated characters （e。g。， Katkov）， all told with a sense of humor and really good writing （and editing）。 The bottom line is that Slaght's doctoral research was important and unprecedented， and it is great fun to watch it take shape。 Look for updates in 5 and 10 years to see whether the efforts to lim A wonderful， wonderful book — an excellent example of a category I've loved for many years。 Lots of specific natural history and current information， set in a personal narrative with intriguing， complicated characters （e。g。， Katkov）， all told with a sense of humor and really good writing （and editing）。 The bottom line is that Slaght's doctoral research was important and unprecedented， and it is great fun to watch it take shape。 Look for updates in 5 and 10 years to see whether the efforts to limit logging road access and reduce poaching and overfishing can work。 。。。more

Karen ，

For a book about conservation and scientific studies， this book actually reads really well。 There may not have been quite as much about the owls and far more about the rigors of field work than I anticipated， but it is fascinating to learn about what little is actually known about these fish owls。 I think Slaght’s descriptions of all of the various animals he encounters are my favorite part because he has some really fantastic descriptors， such as “defiant， floppy goblin” that really helped keep For a book about conservation and scientific studies， this book actually reads really well。 There may not have been quite as much about the owls and far more about the rigors of field work than I anticipated， but it is fascinating to learn about what little is actually known about these fish owls。 I think Slaght’s descriptions of all of the various animals he encounters are my favorite part because he has some really fantastic descriptors， such as “defiant， floppy goblin” that really helped keep my curiosity going。 。。。more

Teddy ，

dnf @ 46%

Steven ，

This books is a narrative description of the author's efforts to study populations of Blakiston's Fish Owl in the Primorye region of far eastern Russia。 That sentence makes it seem rather dry， but really， it's quite compelling。 Slaght had worked in the Peace Corps in the area and came back to study this species with two goals -- writing his PhD dissertation and learning enough about these owls to write a comprehensive conservation plan for them。In the course of the book， we get to meet the vario This books is a narrative description of the author's efforts to study populations of Blakiston's Fish Owl in the Primorye region of far eastern Russia。 That sentence makes it seem rather dry， but really， it's quite compelling。 Slaght had worked in the Peace Corps in the area and came back to study this species with two goals -- writing his PhD dissertation and learning enough about these owls to write a comprehensive conservation plan for them。In the course of the book， we get to meet the various scientists， research assistants and locals who all assist in this effort。 Fish owls - notoriously shy of humans - are easiest to observe in the winter when they're staying close to their nest site。 So much of their efforts center around tracking the owls through snow and darkness。 And， as spring arrives， mud and flash flooding。 Slaght clearly admires these animals and wants to improve their lot， but he doesn't get too emotional about them。 He does， however， show a real fondness for the stoic， capable and sometimes odd people he works with。 I got a real appreciation for the effort and patience required of scientists doing this kind of field work， from having to learn the botany of the area to great detail， to snorkeling through freezing rivers to count fish。 And， of course， there's trying to figure out how to trap， tag and track these amazing creatures。Do yourself a favor and find a sound clip of a Blakiston's Fish Owl duet。 What an amazing thing to hear。 。。。more

Chris Chen ，

I like owls and conservation， but beyond the conservation and life on the frontier story， I thought this book had some great insights about the interconnectedness and the second order complexity of human and animal ecosystems。

Charlie Bygrave ，

Interesting to get an insight to the work of a field scientist。 A bit drawn out。 To be honest I thought the most interesting bit was the part he skipped over at the end about the results of his data and mapping the owls' territories。 But there wasn't much on this。 Interesting to get an insight to the work of a field scientist。 A bit drawn out。 To be honest I thought the most interesting bit was the part he skipped over at the end about the results of his data and mapping the owls' territories。 But there wasn't much on this。 。。。more

Woodstock Pickett ，

Fascinating account of the author's work in the farthest reaches of western Siberia， along the Pacific villages in the area。 He and his Russian colleagues worked for several years to locate the huge fish owls of the region and trap them， fitted with transmitters and leg bands。 and release them so their hunting areas and behaviors could be identified。 Reading speed and pleasure were slowed somewhat by the necessary descriptions of the many limits placed on his fieldwork by the harsh countryside。H Fascinating account of the author's work in the farthest reaches of western Siberia， along the Pacific villages in the area。 He and his Russian colleagues worked for several years to locate the huge fish owls of the region and trap them， fitted with transmitters and leg bands。 and release them so their hunting areas and behaviors could be identified。 Reading speed and pleasure were slowed somewhat by the necessary descriptions of the many limits placed on his fieldwork by the harsh countryside。However， being introduced to a portion of the world that was completely unfamiliar to me was one of the pleasures I gained from reading。 。。。more

Linda S ，

Interesting journal of the author’s search for information a rare owl in a remote area of Siberia。 Both scientific and cultural information。

Cindy Dyson Eitelman ，

Confession up front: I skimmed a few of the chapters。 I thought the book was great。。。but still。。。there was that certain something missing that would have made me stick close and read every page with careful attention to place and time。 I don't fault the author for sticking to the facts--that was the purpose of the book， after all。 He was writing about his time spent tracking down， trapping and observing the Blakiston's Fish Owl in far northeastern Russia， and he is a scientist， not a poet。Part o Confession up front: I skimmed a few of the chapters。 I thought the book was great。。。but still。。。there was that certain something missing that would have made me stick close and read every page with careful attention to place and time。 I don't fault the author for sticking to the facts--that was the purpose of the book， after all。 He was writing about his time spent tracking down， trapping and observing the Blakiston's Fish Owl in far northeastern Russia， and he is a scientist， not a poet。Part of my problem was that I was holding back emotion， trying not to care。 As with any scientist in a vanishing world， death and destruction were all around。 But the owls seemed to be doing okay--they were surviving and raising chicks， still finding a few of the large trees with splits or cavities they used for nesting。 It's possible that their world is remote and inhospitable enough that they can go on eking out their meager lives for a long time to come。A good bit of the book dealt with the ways and means of getting to the wilderness， the strange and unusual places Mr。 Slaght and his fellow researchers occupied， and the weird people they met on the way。 In fact， it was almost as much about the people who studied the owls as it was the owls themselves。 There was much story of eating of odd foods， drinking vodka （once opened， the bottle must be emptied。 it's a rule）， and strange conversations with the wayfarers on the way。But there was enough science that I should have loved it。 I don't know why I didn't。 。。。more

Cooper Mckim ，

Entertaining book that taught me a lot about field research。 There were some areas I would've liked to see explored further。 Entertaining book that taught me a lot about field research。 There were some areas I would've liked to see explored further。 。。。more

Janet ，

Almost a travel book with writing so clear that I was able to almost see this area of Russia。 Beautiful writing。

Julie Buckles ，

This is an incredible story。 Fifteen years ago， the scientific community knew zilch about fish owls。 Today we know a whole lot more because of a Minnesota graduate student who wanted to know more。 This is a road to discovery story—and that the discovery has led to real-world conservation initiatives， makes it even better。 Jonathan Slaght and his colleagues have no resources to rely upon when they begin studying fish owls and so they have to innovate， observe， and patch together the story of the This is an incredible story。 Fifteen years ago， the scientific community knew zilch about fish owls。 Today we know a whole lot more because of a Minnesota graduate student who wanted to know more。 This is a road to discovery story—and that the discovery has led to real-world conservation initiatives， makes it even better。 Jonathan Slaght and his colleagues have no resources to rely upon when they begin studying fish owls and so they have to innovate， observe， and patch together the story of the owls。 For instance， the saga regarding how to trap owls is eye-opening。 We get to learn about the characters who live in this remote and harsh landscape。 We learn about winter travel， the land and the wildlife， the conservation challenges and rewards。 The hopeful finding of these particular owls （that only live in northern Russia and Japan） is that what they need to survive is an old， pulpy worthless tree to nest in and fish to eat。 Having discovered this， Slaght and conservationists were able to talk to the lumber companies about leaving behind the old trees （they had cut them for convenience or to build bridges）。 I chose this for my bookstore's Book of the Month。 If you love birds， wildlife， the north， adventure， you'll likely love this book。 。。。more

Jill ，

Owls of the Eastern Ice is not particularly thrilling， but I enjoyed its 19th century travel journal/natural history vibe。

Nancy Mulder ，

All the world is amazing。

ross bernet ，

Extremely enjoyable book。 Even as someone who knows quite a bit about conservation science， I loved how Slaght weaved his personal narrative and experience with the overall vision and goals of how to conserve this wonderful landscape。 Great to highlight the glamour and less glamorous aspects of conservation fieldwork。I think it was well written and a helpful， transparent guide to doing the type of work he did。 And cool to realize he is our contemporary。 This is ongoing work。 New discoveries are Extremely enjoyable book。 Even as someone who knows quite a bit about conservation science， I loved how Slaght weaved his personal narrative and experience with the overall vision and goals of how to conserve this wonderful landscape。 Great to highlight the glamour and less glamorous aspects of conservation fieldwork。I think it was well written and a helpful， transparent guide to doing the type of work he did。 And cool to realize he is our contemporary。 This is ongoing work。 New discoveries are being made。 And the time to act is RIGHT NOW to preserve these landscapes before they are gone。 。。。more

Luke Stacks ，

Slaght offers some thrilling anecdotes and vivid descriptions of Eastern Russia in his account of researching the fish owl。 The book recounts his many winters spent locating， capturing， and tracking the endangered species in order to develop a conservation plan。 In the initial chapters， a torpid pace hurts the book--I wouldn't say that Slaght's narrative ever summons up the urgency I would associate with the word "quest。" I'm also not fond of his "local color" stories in the early going; I don't Slaght offers some thrilling anecdotes and vivid descriptions of Eastern Russia in his account of researching the fish owl。 The book recounts his many winters spent locating， capturing， and tracking the endangered species in order to develop a conservation plan。 In the initial chapters， a torpid pace hurts the book--I wouldn't say that Slaght's narrative ever summons up the urgency I would associate with the word "quest。" I'm also not fond of his "local color" stories in the early going; I don't exactly think he's being condescending or dismissive of the locals， but the narrow scope of the book can reduce our glimpse of their lives to anything that just seems odd。Once Slaght and the other researchers move into the "capture" phase， the book flows much better。 There is a fun rhythm to seeing the team test and re-test their traps， suffer setbacks， and solve mysteries about the birds。 。。。more

Laryssa ，

Another darn good book。

Paulette Ponte ，

Lots of interesting information in this book but I found it was a little boring for me。 I do admire the sacrifices researchers make to help save endangered species of animals。

Melissa ，

This book has seemingly nothing going for it。 It's nonfiction about a doctoral researcher studying an obscure owl， located in an inaccessible corner of Russia。 Snoozefest for most people。 And yet I enjoyed it immensely。 Slaght has a gift for making otherwise boring and incomprehensible subject matter relatable and engaging。 I can't wait to see what he comes up with next。 This book has seemingly nothing going for it。 It's nonfiction about a doctoral researcher studying an obscure owl， located in an inaccessible corner of Russia。 Snoozefest for most people。 And yet I enjoyed it immensely。 Slaght has a gift for making otherwise boring and incomprehensible subject matter relatable and engaging。 I can't wait to see what he comes up with next。 。。。more

meg ，

On the whole I really enjoyed this but i didn't find it particularly well-focused on the actual owl quest and large portions of it did drag a bit， especially in the first half。I also listened to the audiobook for this one， read by the author， and he does a pretty good job but you can kind of tell he's not a professional， and I suspect I might've enjoyed this one more in print On the whole I really enjoyed this but i didn't find it particularly well-focused on the actual owl quest and large portions of it did drag a bit， especially in the first half。I also listened to the audiobook for this one， read by the author， and he does a pretty good job but you can kind of tell he's not a professional， and I suspect I might've enjoyed this one more in print 。。。more

Beth ，

2。5 stars

Bill Keefe ，

A wonderful read。 Interesting subject， fascinating location and straightforward engaging prose results in a book that is can't-put-it-down good。。。and remarkably educational， to boot！ Loved it！ A wonderful read。 Interesting subject， fascinating location and straightforward engaging prose results in a book that is can't-put-it-down good。。。and remarkably educational， to boot！ Loved it！ 。。。more

Meghan Custis ，

One of the most random books I’ve picked up。。。 but fascinating！ Interesting story about a rare species while also somewhat casually informative about Russian culture。

Emily ，

I’d never heard of this kind of owl before this book caught my eye， and I learned a lot reading it。 The writing was fantastic， and I enjoyed his descriptions of the people he worked with on his research project as much as his descriptions of the fish owls and other animals in Primorye Province in Russia。 It was fascinating to see how he plotted out his five-year research grant， spending part of each year in Russia doing fieldwork， and spending off-season time in Minnesota， studying and developin I’d never heard of this kind of owl before this book caught my eye， and I learned a lot reading it。 The writing was fantastic， and I enjoyed his descriptions of the people he worked with on his research project as much as his descriptions of the fish owls and other animals in Primorye Province in Russia。 It was fascinating to see how he plotted out his five-year research grant， spending part of each year in Russia doing fieldwork， and spending off-season time in Minnesota， studying and developing skills （like raptor capture！） to prepare for the next season of fieldwork in Russia。 The book was a good one for my chapter-a-day approach to nonfiction， broken up into easily-digested chapters （although once I realized it was a 2-week library checkout instead of 4-week， I had to pick up the pace）。 He’s a good storyteller， so whatever he was describing—a colorful character he met， an aspect of Russian culture， the hardships of fieldwork in a Russian winter， or his encounters with the fish owls and other animals—it was all absorbing。 If you’re an animal lover or a fan of travel writing， I highly recommend this！ 。。。more

Jill ，

Fascinating！ Outstanding！ Excellent writing！ I’m sad to finish it。

Madeline Buhman ，

Such an awesome read。 Not high action per say， but a fascinating balance of two narratives: the challenges of cutting edge research， and a series of vignette-style glimpses into rural life in eastern Russia。 I thought the narrator was engaging and forthright with the obstacles in the research and with the cultural differnces between Minnesota and Primorsky。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Owls of the Eastern Ice: A Quest to Find and Save the World's Largest Owl

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Owls of the Eastern Ice: A Quest to Find and Save the World's Largest Owl&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Owls of the Eastern Ice: A Quest to Find and Save the World's Largest Owl&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0