Winter, Wanderlust, and Owls
Today’s Book Feature:
Owls of the Eastern Ice: A Quest to Find and Save the World’s Largest Owl, by Jonathan C. Slaught
“Have you ever been enamored by something you’ve never seen?”
This is a question posed by wildlife conservationist and author Jonathan C. Slaught, in reference to his calling to study and protect one of the world’s most rare and remarkable birds--Fish Owls. Blakiston’s Fish Owl is a notoriously elusive, substantial fluffy goblin of a bird that resides in the isolated, rugged wintry forests of Primorye. Stretching across Russia’s far east along the borders of North Korea and Northern China, this mountainous land is the essence of true wilderness. In Owls of the Eastern Ice, Jonathan recounts his incredible journey to search for and save the future of Blakiston’s fish owl, in the depths of this ominous wonderland where nature commands the will of those who navigate its primal terrain.
I absolutely loved this read! So much that it’s the first book I’m choosing for this new series, “Books and Coffee.’ As a travel writer, I find Slaught’s style highly engaging, informative, and richly descriptive. This narrative, lifted from the core of his personal field notes, is a study in character as well as the novel’s focus, the extraordinary fish owl. His experience of climbing into a cramped helicopter and traversing impassable wilderness transports you with wonder, trepidation, and humor. Admiral determination balances with endearing absurdity as Slaught shares his encounters of the many colorful characters he worked and traveled with on this epic quest to find and study the fish owl.
Slaught’s writing style has a clarity and presence that captivates, an expression of his professional observational skills in a narrative context. As a reader, you feel the sloshing ice and wind of travel by snowmobile, the wary crunch of ice-crested snow as the spring melt begins. You deftly imagine yourself into the questionable shelter of an abandoned spare cabin littered with discarded black tea bags and empty vodka bottles, smell the smoky air from a leaking stovepipe and hear the crunch of chipping plaster underfoot. The palpable excitement of progress through the countless challenges of capturing and studying these feathery phenoms resonates with profound satisfaction. This novel is written through the lens of Slaught’s perspective, but expertly illuminates the eclectic crew that achieved the impossible alongside him. I truly appreciated that he was open in sharing what went wrong, as well as what succeeded in his five years of field work. Triumphs carry a far greater meaning when you have followed the journey of every mistake and mishap that led to the victory.
I became so engaged with and intrigued by Fish Owls from reading this! They look like they emerged from the darkest imaginings of Jim Henson. Described as “feathered bears” and “fluffy goblins,” these salmon-hunting, reclusive, enormous owls have impressive ear tufts and electric yellow eyes. They inhabit the hollows of ancient, large trees, and thrive in the most remote recesses of woodland territory. Slaught’s brilliant descriptions of this completely unique, otherworldly creature made me want to learn more, and to support the insurmountable effort that makes wildlife conservation possible.
Ultimately, Owls of the Eastern Ice is a fantastic read to dive into for adventure, awareness, and appreciation of the wondrous world we inhabit.
Review by Jessie Howe. February 8th, 2021
This book is available through Audible, for those who enjoy listening to books. I especially appreciated that this edition is read by the author, Jonathan C. Slaught.
Here’s a fun little sketch study I did of a Blakiston’s Fish Owl, upon reading this book. Freehanded in pen, on Feb. 5th, 2021.