The Snowy Owl Scientist

May 1, 2022
The magnificent snowy owl has only one U.S. nesting location: Ukpeagvik, on Alaska's North Shore. Readers travel vicariously to the town of Utqiagvik (previously Barrow) where they meet senior owl researcher Denver Holt, who has been studying these nesting grounds every summer since the early 1990s. In a designated hundred-square-mile area of the tundra, he makes numerous scheduled trips to count the nests; band chicks; collect data on lemmings, the staple of this creature's diet (ascertained by dissecting thirty-five thousand owl pellets); analyze nest rims for other sources of food; and study the feather markings of both males and females. Readers not only glimpse the difficulties of working in such challenging conditions, including driving or walking through the spongy tundra or meticulously protecting the nests while studying them and warding off aggressive birds of prey, but they also see how Holt uses the data to form conclusions or prompt further study. Wilson, a prolific wildlife photographer, explains his procedures for photographing these birds in their natural habitat and shares his final products in clear, informative, and often dramatic images. Appended with a glossary, a bibliography, and an index (unseen). Betty Carter

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2022
The magnificent snowy owl has only one U.S. nesting location: Ukpeagvik, on Alaska's North Shore. Readers travel vicariously to the town of Utqiagvik (previously Barrow) where they meet senior owl researcher Denver Holt, who has been studying these nesting grounds every summer since the early 1990s. In a designated hundred-square-mile area of the tundra, he makes numerous scheduled trips to count the nests; band chicks; collect data on lemmings, the staple of this creature's diet (ascertained by dissecting thirty-five thousand owl pellets); analyze nest rims for other sources of food; and study the feather markings of both males and females. Readers not only glimpse the difficulties of working in such challenging conditions, including driving or walking through the spongy tundra or meticulously protecting the nests while studying them and warding off aggressive birds of prey, but they also see how Holt uses the data to form conclusions or prompt further study. Wilson, a prolific wildlife photographer, explains his procedures for photographing these birds in their natural habitat and shares his final products in clear, informative, and often dramatic images. Appended with a glossary, a bibliography, and an index (unseen).

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from May 20, 2022

Gr 3-6-The latest installment of the consistently excellent "Scientist in the Field" series features the work of Denver Holt, a snowy owl researcher who travels to Alaska's north slope and the town of Utqiagvik, formerly Barrow, each June to survey snowy owl nesting. It may be summer, but the temperature is a brisk 38 degrees Fahrenheit (-3 degrees Celsius), so warm layers are required. So is an ATV as the few roads are gravel and, once off-road, much walking needs to be done to protect the nests, which are made on the ground. Holt and his assistants locate the nests, count eggs and owlets, and monitor food resources. The conversational text is engaging and accessible, but it's the photographs that shine, from the arresting and appealing front cover to the impressive final image on the back. There are images on nearly every page that get readers up close and personal. These include helpful maps and thumbnails, sketches of wing feathering, photos of the flora and fauna of the area, and dramatic action shots. Sidebars include extra pertinent information such as quick facts and what to do if one finds an injured owl. Back matter includes a glossary, references, and an index. VERDICT A first purchase sure to inspire budding scientists and snowy owl aficionados.-Brenda Kahn

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from March 1, 2022
Grades 4-7 *Starred Review* The terrific Scientists in the Field series gets another installment, this time focusing on the stunning snowy owl. Photographer and owl afficionado Wilson follows long-time field researcher Denver Holt to the Alaskan tundra, home to nesting snowy owls for millennia. Holt has been keeping an eye on the owls for years, and readers are treated to an intimate look at the spectacular raptors, Holt's tireless fieldwork, and the remote town of Utqiagvik and its human residents. It's an incredibly detailed and engrossing inquiry, and the frequent first-person narration makes the text urgent and inviting, transporting readers into a wild, windswept world. Tinted sidebars point the audience to brief biographies, observation tools, or anatomical information, so the dense material never feels overwhelming. The abundant humor and honesty about the sometimes-difficult conditions and repetitive aspects of fieldwork is delightfully refreshing, though it is clear that it remains rewarding and essential work. Truly astonishing photos appear on nearly every spread--midflight skirmishes, sudden strikes on a scientist's backpack--capturing an impressive range of flora and fauna along with the beauty of the stark landscape. There is much still unknown about the owls, and a concluding discussion of the warming oceans makes it obvious that the ecosystem hangs in a delicate balance. An extraordinary crash course in geography, biology, conservation, and ecology that goes far beyond its wonderful winged subject.

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