The Owl Who Liked Sitting on Caesar
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- £4.99
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- £4.99
Publisher Description
‘Perched on the back of a sunlit chair was something about 9 inches tall and shaped rather like a plump toy penguin with a nose-job. It appeared to be wearing a one-piece knitted jumpsuit of pale grey fluff with brown stitching, complete with an attached balaclava helmet. From the face-hole of the fuzzy balaclava, two big, shiny black eyes gazed up at me trustfully. Kweep, it said quietly.’
When author Martin Windrow met the tawny owlet that he christened Mumble, it was love at first sight. Raising her from a fledgling, through adolescence and into her prime years, Windrow recorded every detail of their time living together (secretly) in a south London tower block, and later in a Sussex village. This is the touching, intriguing and eccentric story of their 15-year relationship, complete with photographs and illustrations of the beautiful Mumble. Along the way, we are given fascinating insight into the ornithology of owls – from their evolution and biology to their breeding habits and hunting tactics. The Owl Who Liked Sitting on Caesar is a witty, quirky and utterly charming account of the companionship between one man and his owl.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
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.
