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Owls of the Eastern Ice: A Quest to Find and Save the World's Largest Owl
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Science & Technology (2020)A field scientist and conservationist tracks the elusive Blakiston's Fish Owl in the forbidding reaches of eastern Russia 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. 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.
Audio CD
First published August 4, 2020
About the author
Jonathan C. Slaght
8 books191 followersJonathan C. Slaght, PhD, is the Regional Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Temperate Asia Program, where he oversees WCS programs in China, Mongolia, and Afghanistan, and projects in Russia and Central Asia.
His memoir, "Owls of the Eastern Ice," was longlisted for a 2020 National Book Award for Nonfiction, and won the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award in 2021.
Slaght's "Tigers Between Empires" is slated for release from FSG on 04 November, 2025.
His other writings have been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Guardian, and Audubon Magazine, among others.
His memoir, "Owls of the Eastern Ice," was longlisted for a 2020 National Book Award for Nonfiction, and won the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award in 2021.
Slaght's "Tigers Between Empires" is slated for release from FSG on 04 November, 2025.
His other writings have been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Guardian, and Audubon Magazine, among others.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 944 reviews
October 15, 2020
Eastern Russia and the search for the world's largest owl. Fish owls can be anywhere from two to two in a half feet tall, weighing up to right pounds, talons the size of a human hand. Of course I had to look them up. A book that blends, conservatism, science and fieldwork, though I would say field work took up the largest part. These owls are elusive, found in only certain places, under certain conditions, so the hunt was lengthly with rare glimpses in the beginning.
The search itself, the fieldwork was fascinating. The characters that live in this part of the world include fishermen, hunters, eccentrics galore including a man who sleeps in a wooden pyramid for its positive energy. Hardy drinkers for sure. If one opens a bottle of vodka, one throws away the cap because all drink until the bottle is empty. They encounter melting ice, blizzards, extreme coldness, this is after all a harsh place
So along with learning about the owls themselves, we learn just how painstakingly tedious and lengthy fieldwork can be. It was a fascinating journey, a well told colorful journey about the efforts of conservatism and the men who pursue this course in life.
ARC from edelweiss.
The search itself, the fieldwork was fascinating. The characters that live in this part of the world include fishermen, hunters, eccentrics galore including a man who sleeps in a wooden pyramid for its positive energy. Hardy drinkers for sure. If one opens a bottle of vodka, one throws away the cap because all drink until the bottle is empty. They encounter melting ice, blizzards, extreme coldness, this is after all a harsh place
So along with learning about the owls themselves, we learn just how painstakingly tedious and lengthy fieldwork can be. It was a fascinating journey, a well told colorful journey about the efforts of conservatism and the men who pursue this course in life.
ARC from edelweiss.
February 17, 2021
National Book Award for Nonfiction Longlist 2020. Wow! Who knew that conservation fieldwork could be so harrowing! It requires personal fortitude, as well as a panoply of practical skills. Slaght’s quest to study the endangered Blakiston’s fish owl in the remote forests of Primorye, a region of Russia bordering North Korea and the Sea of Japan, involved floods, wildfires, vehicles sinking through ice, malfunctioning technologies, subzero vigils in the black of night, and interactions with some ‘colorful’ characters like the hermit who believes in teleportation. Slaght recounts the unforgettable story of a fisherman drifting lost on the open sea. There is also the local man set on revenge against the owl after losing a testicle to an immature owl while crouching to defecate in the woods.
Through it all, I fell in love with this owl who sings duets with its mate, nests in huge, old-growth trees, and fish the river valleys even in the dead of winter. The good news is that preserving the habitat for this owl also helps a number of other endangered species, including the Amur Tiger. Highly recommend.
Through it all, I fell in love with this owl who sings duets with its mate, nests in huge, old-growth trees, and fish the river valleys even in the dead of winter. The good news is that preserving the habitat for this owl also helps a number of other endangered species, including the Amur Tiger. Highly recommend.
May 26, 2021
This was a library book I downloaded to check it out and see what I thought. I thought highly enough of the first few chapters to keep reading to the end. Who knew those mild mannered naturalists were such a hardy breed themselves, braving ice and snow, raging rivers during the thaw, roaming tigers, and crazy Russian villagers to collect the data needed to help conserve the Blackiston Fish Owl, only found in parts of Russia and Japan. They are the largest owls in existence and little was known about their habits until just recently. Hooray for naturalists! And who knew they could drink so much vodka!
This book goes into the category "Rather read about it than do it myself".
This book goes into the category "Rather read about it than do it myself".
January 14, 2022
Click here to hear my thoughts on this book over on my Booktube channel, abookolive.
April 1, 2023
In brief - If remote places and rare wildlife interest you then it's worth a look at this well written book. 4.5/5
In full
This fascinating book starts with an introduction to the author’s interest in the area and the owls. It includes his memories of his first sighting of a Blakiston’s fish owl even though at the time he did not know what he had seen. This is about both the owl - the largest and one of the rarest in the world - and the Primorye area of eastern Russia. Until I read this I confess I had never even heard of the area. I did do some research and found that it really is at the far eastern end of Russia; it is both remote and fairly wild. It is a forested region with a diverse range of important wildlife. There is a real threat though from logging activities.
As an American in this remote region the author is a curiosity to locals; as someone looking for birds even more so. This book is in part the story of Slaght’s PhD research project. Having encountered a Blakiston's fish owl he is taken with the idea of learning more. However he really is starting from scratch as very little is really known about the owl. There is a small population in Japan where they had been studied to some degree however the author was the first person to really look properly at (and look for) the owl in Primorye.
Maybe the first comment I should make is that this really is a very readable and accessible book. For something that was a PhD project remarkably so. I found myself reading this more as though it was a book of fiction. I became caught up in the highs and lows of the quest. Initially this consist of simply finding any owls at all. Some of the people working with Slaght had come across them peripherally but real information is very thin on the ground. After that the task is to catch, weight etc, tag and put on transmitters on some owls in the populations identified. It's fair to say that none of this is remotely simple!
In addition to the wilderness feel of the area the weather can be very poor. Much of the work was carried out in the late winter/early spring months in snow (and during snow). Rivers were often frozen so finding places these owls could actually feed can be challenging. There are some scary adventures here. Equally some of the people were at best a little unusual. These are tales of a primeval place and sometimes almost primeval people. Much alcohol is drunk as matter of course. The living conditions are frequently less then 1 star never mind 5 star. I found the book both fascinating and entertaining. At one point Slaght reflects on how little they actually know about the owls and then reminds himself while this is true they know more than anyone else about the owls in the region and Russia generally.
The book ends with the conservation work undertaken and proposed for the owls and the area. There are thoughts on this generally as well as the fish owls in particular. Mine was a proof copy however I would have loved to have seen a map of the area. Equally the bird itself is quite remarkable and so some pictures of it would have been appreciated by this reader at least. However I really did find this a good read and I would recommend it to anyone who finds the general idea of this appealing.
For me this book is about peering into the "wild" and sometimes the "wild" looks back and bites...!
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
In full
This fascinating book starts with an introduction to the author’s interest in the area and the owls. It includes his memories of his first sighting of a Blakiston’s fish owl even though at the time he did not know what he had seen. This is about both the owl - the largest and one of the rarest in the world - and the Primorye area of eastern Russia. Until I read this I confess I had never even heard of the area. I did do some research and found that it really is at the far eastern end of Russia; it is both remote and fairly wild. It is a forested region with a diverse range of important wildlife. There is a real threat though from logging activities.
As an American in this remote region the author is a curiosity to locals; as someone looking for birds even more so. This book is in part the story of Slaght’s PhD research project. Having encountered a Blakiston's fish owl he is taken with the idea of learning more. However he really is starting from scratch as very little is really known about the owl. There is a small population in Japan where they had been studied to some degree however the author was the first person to really look properly at (and look for) the owl in Primorye.
Maybe the first comment I should make is that this really is a very readable and accessible book. For something that was a PhD project remarkably so. I found myself reading this more as though it was a book of fiction. I became caught up in the highs and lows of the quest. Initially this consist of simply finding any owls at all. Some of the people working with Slaght had come across them peripherally but real information is very thin on the ground. After that the task is to catch, weight etc, tag and put on transmitters on some owls in the populations identified. It's fair to say that none of this is remotely simple!
In addition to the wilderness feel of the area the weather can be very poor. Much of the work was carried out in the late winter/early spring months in snow (and during snow). Rivers were often frozen so finding places these owls could actually feed can be challenging. There are some scary adventures here. Equally some of the people were at best a little unusual. These are tales of a primeval place and sometimes almost primeval people. Much alcohol is drunk as matter of course. The living conditions are frequently less then 1 star never mind 5 star. I found the book both fascinating and entertaining. At one point Slaght reflects on how little they actually know about the owls and then reminds himself while this is true they know more than anyone else about the owls in the region and Russia generally.
The book ends with the conservation work undertaken and proposed for the owls and the area. There are thoughts on this generally as well as the fish owls in particular. Mine was a proof copy however I would have loved to have seen a map of the area. Equally the bird itself is quite remarkable and so some pictures of it would have been appreciated by this reader at least. However I really did find this a good read and I would recommend it to anyone who finds the general idea of this appealing.
For me this book is about peering into the "wild" and sometimes the "wild" looks back and bites...!
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
October 2, 2020
Owls of the Eastern Ice by Jonathan C. Slaght
Having previously read The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival by John Vaillant, with this book I've returned in my reading to Primorye, Russia. The fish owl is a symbol of Primorye’s wilderness almost as much as the Amur tiger, and as with the tiger the needs of fish owls and humans are inextricably linked in Primorye, indicative as it is of the connectedness of all life on our little blue canoe.
The accounting in this book is but one small conservation effort, and until a critical mass of humanity appreciates the necessity, our species designation of Homo sapiens (Latin for 'wise man') is no more than self-aggrandizement. Sorry to be so blunt, but the truth of the statement is blatantly obvious. Have we been rendered unable on the whole by our genetic makeup to recognize it? If so, our species as it currently exists will be short lived, because our excesses are altering the environment which sustains us at an exponential rate relative to natural causes.
This writing might bore strictly entertainment or fanciful escapist readers, but for readers pondering the state of the natural world that sustains us this book is entertaining in its way and very informative. There can certainly be no complaints about the quality of the writing, nor the presentation. The presentation by a valiant conservationist is straightforward, beginning with the instigation and planning of the fish owl study, the intermediate search for viable populations, then the capture and tagging of the owls for telemetry study. Along the way there is adventure, interactions with humans and wildlife, and more subtle and limited commentary than there was in John Vaillant's book about the Amur tiger.
"Primorye is, more so than most of the temperate zone, a place where humans and wildlife still share the same resources. There are fishermen and salmon, loggers and fish owls, hunters and tigers. Many parts of the world are too urban or overpopulated for such natural systems to exist; in Primorye, nature moves in a flow of interconnected parts. The world is richer for it: Primorye’s trees become floors in North America, and seafood from its waters is sold throughout Asia. Fish owls are a symbol of this functioning ecosystem, a demonstration that wilderness can still be found. Despite the ever-increasing network of logging roads pushing deeper into fish owl habitat, and the resulting threats to the owls, we continue to actively collect information to learn more about these birds, share what we discover, and protect them and the landscape. With proper management we’ll always see fish in the rivers here, and we’ll continue to follow tracks of tigers that weave among pine and shadow in search of prey. And, standing in the forest under the right conditions, we’ll hear the salmon hunters too—the fish owls—announcing like town criers that all is well: Primorye is still wild."
My apologies to those that find my commentary ruffling, but understand that I'm nearing the end of my days and am deeply saddened by how we are endangering the future of our youth and innocent life forms.
Having previously read The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival by John Vaillant, with this book I've returned in my reading to Primorye, Russia. The fish owl is a symbol of Primorye’s wilderness almost as much as the Amur tiger, and as with the tiger the needs of fish owls and humans are inextricably linked in Primorye, indicative as it is of the connectedness of all life on our little blue canoe.
The accounting in this book is but one small conservation effort, and until a critical mass of humanity appreciates the necessity, our species designation of Homo sapiens (Latin for 'wise man') is no more than self-aggrandizement. Sorry to be so blunt, but the truth of the statement is blatantly obvious. Have we been rendered unable on the whole by our genetic makeup to recognize it? If so, our species as it currently exists will be short lived, because our excesses are altering the environment which sustains us at an exponential rate relative to natural causes.
This writing might bore strictly entertainment or fanciful escapist readers, but for readers pondering the state of the natural world that sustains us this book is entertaining in its way and very informative. There can certainly be no complaints about the quality of the writing, nor the presentation. The presentation by a valiant conservationist is straightforward, beginning with the instigation and planning of the fish owl study, the intermediate search for viable populations, then the capture and tagging of the owls for telemetry study. Along the way there is adventure, interactions with humans and wildlife, and more subtle and limited commentary than there was in John Vaillant's book about the Amur tiger.
"Primorye is, more so than most of the temperate zone, a place where humans and wildlife still share the same resources. There are fishermen and salmon, loggers and fish owls, hunters and tigers. Many parts of the world are too urban or overpopulated for such natural systems to exist; in Primorye, nature moves in a flow of interconnected parts. The world is richer for it: Primorye’s trees become floors in North America, and seafood from its waters is sold throughout Asia. Fish owls are a symbol of this functioning ecosystem, a demonstration that wilderness can still be found. Despite the ever-increasing network of logging roads pushing deeper into fish owl habitat, and the resulting threats to the owls, we continue to actively collect information to learn more about these birds, share what we discover, and protect them and the landscape. With proper management we’ll always see fish in the rivers here, and we’ll continue to follow tracks of tigers that weave among pine and shadow in search of prey. And, standing in the forest under the right conditions, we’ll hear the salmon hunters too—the fish owls—announcing like town criers that all is well: Primorye is still wild."
My apologies to those that find my commentary ruffling, but understand that I'm nearing the end of my days and am deeply saddened by how we are endangering the future of our youth and innocent life forms.
December 6, 2024
Imagine: 1) I am slow reading Owls and Other Fantasies by Mary Oliver; 2) I went on an (age-appropriate oldster, but with a "boy genius"--everyone seems to call him that--leader) owl walk with a birding group the other night (and we heard three screech owls; and were told that six different kinds of owls had been sighted in this area, so we sort of "geeked" [youngster word] at the outset), and 3) I heard this book was shortlisted for the 2020 National Book Award for Non-Fiction. Not surprisingly, given the obscure subject matter, there was no waiting list whatsoever to my downloading the audiobook version. Which makes me all the more committed to writing this review.
Oh, I really, really like this book, read by the nerdy adventurer/scholar Slaght, an academic writing a very accessible sort of environmental thriller, a story of his traveling to where some of the few Fish Owls--the largest owls, and least known--live, in order to try to argue with the world to save their habitats, if at all possible. The Eastern Ice he refers to in the title is in the Primoriye region of Eastern Russia, close to Japan, and North Korea. Way far north, in a very hard to get to area, where the remaining owls he studied still live.
So Slaght wrote his MA thesis and dissertation at the University of Minnesota about this work, about The Blakiston's Fish Owl, the largest species of owl on earth--this data collection--over the space of several years. Not for you, a scientific study? Think again. Slaght describes some of the work as a sometimes dangerous series of adventures involving a lot of crazy characters--mystics, hermits-- mingled with seriously committed researchers, dangerous weather, and a lot of vodka. And in the way of any research, much frustration, much disappointment, and outright failure.
But the first hearing of the owls--the owls sometimes sing in duets!--and the first sightings(wow!), and the first capture for marking and and further close study--are narrated with such downright excitement that you get why traveling this far to just see these birds could be thrilling. And important, not just some obscure venture such as you might find in a Werner Herzog film (such as Grizzly Man, a documentary). If you think that saving an owl is a snooze fest, Slaght will convince you that this work, one small part of our--all of our--larger work to live in harmony with the planet, is important for not only the owls, but for us.
Yes, I read The Sixth Extinction, I know it is terrifying what is happening to species every day as climate change catastrophe and habitat disappearance descends on us, but this is just one story of good news that can inspire us to fight in our own areas for what's left for the creatures we share the planet we need to coexist with.
Here's a one minute video promo to the book, and the project:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya03Z...
Here's a Guardian article where we can see the owls and Slaght, and read a short article that just might get you into this, as it did me:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/202...
Oh, I really, really like this book, read by the nerdy adventurer/scholar Slaght, an academic writing a very accessible sort of environmental thriller, a story of his traveling to where some of the few Fish Owls--the largest owls, and least known--live, in order to try to argue with the world to save their habitats, if at all possible. The Eastern Ice he refers to in the title is in the Primoriye region of Eastern Russia, close to Japan, and North Korea. Way far north, in a very hard to get to area, where the remaining owls he studied still live.
So Slaght wrote his MA thesis and dissertation at the University of Minnesota about this work, about The Blakiston's Fish Owl, the largest species of owl on earth--this data collection--over the space of several years. Not for you, a scientific study? Think again. Slaght describes some of the work as a sometimes dangerous series of adventures involving a lot of crazy characters--mystics, hermits-- mingled with seriously committed researchers, dangerous weather, and a lot of vodka. And in the way of any research, much frustration, much disappointment, and outright failure.
But the first hearing of the owls--the owls sometimes sing in duets!--and the first sightings(wow!), and the first capture for marking and and further close study--are narrated with such downright excitement that you get why traveling this far to just see these birds could be thrilling. And important, not just some obscure venture such as you might find in a Werner Herzog film (such as Grizzly Man, a documentary). If you think that saving an owl is a snooze fest, Slaght will convince you that this work, one small part of our--all of our--larger work to live in harmony with the planet, is important for not only the owls, but for us.
Yes, I read The Sixth Extinction, I know it is terrifying what is happening to species every day as climate change catastrophe and habitat disappearance descends on us, but this is just one story of good news that can inspire us to fight in our own areas for what's left for the creatures we share the planet we need to coexist with.
Here's a one minute video promo to the book, and the project:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya03Z...
Here's a Guardian article where we can see the owls and Slaght, and read a short article that just might get you into this, as it did me:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/202...
October 14, 2020
Owls are considered one of the most elusive and magical members of the bird family. These feathered (large) fairies are extremely intelligent, beautifully outfitted with plumage and are remarkable hunters. Yet, due to their nocturnal meanderings; we don’t often come into contact. One of the rarest (and most endangered) of all owls is Blakiston’s Fish Owl: a large owl living in the remote, icy enclaves of Russia (and parts of Japan). Jonathan C. Slaght, the Russia and Northeast Asia Coordinator for the Wildlife Conservation Society; was a mere graduate student when he fell in love with Blakiston’s Fish Owls and vowed to curate a conservation plan for these special owls. Slaght was by no means a fish owl expert or a formal ornithologist but became one after many months spent in the Russian winters. Slaght shares his journey in, “Owls of the Eastern Ice: A Quest to Find and Save the World’s Largest Owl”.
“Owls of the Eastern Ice” has the makings of what would be the ultimate scientific adventure/memoir: we have endangered owls, remote Russian villages (borderline still stuck in the Soviet era), there is Slaght’s personal growth and human interest arc, educational owl observations… “Owls of the Eastern Ice” should be like an Indiana Jones tale set in Russia. Sadly, it is NOTHING like that. Instead, “Owls of the Eastern Ice” is a flat, dry, shining example of high ambition but terrible execution. How could you massacre this, Slaght?! Slaght wanting to take a scholarly, academic approach rather than infusing any personal bias is understandable; but, there is a way to stylize an enthusiastic narrative and remain professional but Slaght failed monumentally at the task.
Slaght begins “Owls of the Eastern Ice” with a quick introduction explaining his interest in fish owls and dives into his multiple expeditions in freezing, remote Russia to trap the owls and collect data regarding the territories and behaviors of the birds in order to hopefully create a conservation plan with Russia. The problem is that this is all there is to “Owls of the Eastern Ice”. Meaning, it is a repetitive compendium of every single chapter reading exactly the same just with a new owl in another territory. Slaght should have just saved time and copy/pasted every chapter. “Owls of the Eastern Ice” is bone dry, boring and the opposite of a riveting page-turner: readers just want it to end.
Will you at least learn about Blakiston’s Fish Owls by reading “Owls of the Eastern Ice”? Hardly. Although Slaght throws in owl-specific facts relating to both fish owls and ornithology; owl-lovers will be disappointed by not coming away with any memorable information after reading “Owls of the Eastern Ice” which is a product of Slaght’s writing style. What is the point here?! The entire text is devoid of in-depth meaning. However, if seeking to learn about Russian winter climates, reclusive persons and local history; then “Owls of the Eastern Ice” is an ideal choice.
Any emotion whatsoever is absent in “Owls of the Eastern Ice”. Slaght never connects with the reader or get personal resulting in his psyche meaning a mystery and private. Although ‘professional’, this also appears ‘cold’. Emotion is also missing from his time spent in the field. “Owls of the Eastern Ice” is no more than a logbook: “We did this. Then we did that. Then this happened”. Slaght never has a reaction to anything even when an impressionable event occurs.
Adding to this unbearable structure is Slaght’s propensity to appear insensitive and judgmental when describing others he works with on the project. Slaght highlights individuals in a poor, degrading manner that simply isn’t necessary. “Owls of the Eastern Ice” simply has many questionable, cringe-worthy moments.
Animal-lovers will also find themselves occasionally distressed as Slaght and his assistants often seem to not truly love animals: they complain about common creatures like domestic cats, are ferocious hunters and meat-eaters and the owl traps are borderline cruel. One would expect those in these professional roles to also be animal-obsessed but that doesn’t appear to be the case. (Sidenote: my professional career is a senior role working with goats so I pay my bills from my four-legged furry friends but I am also a huge animal-lover of all kinds. I would have assumed Slaght to be similar).
Slaght’s only positive is his illustrative descriptions of Russians climates and terrains. Readers truly gain a sense of this and can visualize everything Slaght pens in “Owls of the Eastern Ice”.
“Owls of the Eastern Ice” has no growth whether personal or professional and there is not much to glean about the subject. It isn’t until the conclusion beginning on page 300 that Slaght becomes slightly descriptive in what the data meant and explains future conservation plants but this is too little, too late; and still leaves many unanswered questions.
Slaght supplements “Owls of the Eastern Ice” with a section of color photo plates and annotated notes.
“Owls of the Eastern Ice” is a sore, painful cut that takes a long time to heal. Slaght had a valuable and interesting thesis that was offered in a dry, emotionless, non-memorable way that fails to meet is aims. Owl-lovers and animal-lovers in general will have their hearts broken while science research and memoir readers are left without any new knowledge. “Owls of the Eastern Ice” is a waste of time: SKIP!
“Owls of the Eastern Ice” has the makings of what would be the ultimate scientific adventure/memoir: we have endangered owls, remote Russian villages (borderline still stuck in the Soviet era), there is Slaght’s personal growth and human interest arc, educational owl observations… “Owls of the Eastern Ice” should be like an Indiana Jones tale set in Russia. Sadly, it is NOTHING like that. Instead, “Owls of the Eastern Ice” is a flat, dry, shining example of high ambition but terrible execution. How could you massacre this, Slaght?! Slaght wanting to take a scholarly, academic approach rather than infusing any personal bias is understandable; but, there is a way to stylize an enthusiastic narrative and remain professional but Slaght failed monumentally at the task.
Slaght begins “Owls of the Eastern Ice” with a quick introduction explaining his interest in fish owls and dives into his multiple expeditions in freezing, remote Russia to trap the owls and collect data regarding the territories and behaviors of the birds in order to hopefully create a conservation plan with Russia. The problem is that this is all there is to “Owls of the Eastern Ice”. Meaning, it is a repetitive compendium of every single chapter reading exactly the same just with a new owl in another territory. Slaght should have just saved time and copy/pasted every chapter. “Owls of the Eastern Ice” is bone dry, boring and the opposite of a riveting page-turner: readers just want it to end.
Will you at least learn about Blakiston’s Fish Owls by reading “Owls of the Eastern Ice”? Hardly. Although Slaght throws in owl-specific facts relating to both fish owls and ornithology; owl-lovers will be disappointed by not coming away with any memorable information after reading “Owls of the Eastern Ice” which is a product of Slaght’s writing style. What is the point here?! The entire text is devoid of in-depth meaning. However, if seeking to learn about Russian winter climates, reclusive persons and local history; then “Owls of the Eastern Ice” is an ideal choice.
Any emotion whatsoever is absent in “Owls of the Eastern Ice”. Slaght never connects with the reader or get personal resulting in his psyche meaning a mystery and private. Although ‘professional’, this also appears ‘cold’. Emotion is also missing from his time spent in the field. “Owls of the Eastern Ice” is no more than a logbook: “We did this. Then we did that. Then this happened”. Slaght never has a reaction to anything even when an impressionable event occurs.
Adding to this unbearable structure is Slaght’s propensity to appear insensitive and judgmental when describing others he works with on the project. Slaght highlights individuals in a poor, degrading manner that simply isn’t necessary. “Owls of the Eastern Ice” simply has many questionable, cringe-worthy moments.
Animal-lovers will also find themselves occasionally distressed as Slaght and his assistants often seem to not truly love animals: they complain about common creatures like domestic cats, are ferocious hunters and meat-eaters and the owl traps are borderline cruel. One would expect those in these professional roles to also be animal-obsessed but that doesn’t appear to be the case. (Sidenote: my professional career is a senior role working with goats so I pay my bills from my four-legged furry friends but I am also a huge animal-lover of all kinds. I would have assumed Slaght to be similar).
Slaght’s only positive is his illustrative descriptions of Russians climates and terrains. Readers truly gain a sense of this and can visualize everything Slaght pens in “Owls of the Eastern Ice”.
“Owls of the Eastern Ice” has no growth whether personal or professional and there is not much to glean about the subject. It isn’t until the conclusion beginning on page 300 that Slaght becomes slightly descriptive in what the data meant and explains future conservation plants but this is too little, too late; and still leaves many unanswered questions.
Slaght supplements “Owls of the Eastern Ice” with a section of color photo plates and annotated notes.
“Owls of the Eastern Ice” is a sore, painful cut that takes a long time to heal. Slaght had a valuable and interesting thesis that was offered in a dry, emotionless, non-memorable way that fails to meet is aims. Owl-lovers and animal-lovers in general will have their hearts broken while science research and memoir readers are left without any new knowledge. “Owls of the Eastern Ice” is a waste of time: SKIP!
September 13, 2022
Review originally published October 26, 2021
Having read Wesley the Owl (2008) not too long ago, I was craving another owl story. Instead of Barn Owls, Owls of the Eastern Ice: A Quest to Find and Save the World’s Largest Owl (2020) features a field scientist and conservationist chasing the rare Blakiston's Fish Owl over a period of five years through remote eastern Russian forests.
(A Blakiston's Fish Owl)
Jonathan Slaght was entranced by his first fleeting sighting of the elusive and enigmatic owl when he was in Russia serving with the Peace Corps. Birdwatching was his hobby in those days. This set him on a path to undertake a five-year study of the world’s largest—and endangered—owl in graduate school. His assembled team of dedicated Russian conservationists, ornithologists (scientists who study birds), and experienced woodsmen doggedly pursue this mysterious owl through some of the most challenging terrain.
It speaks to Slaght’s and his team’s dedication to the preservation of these unique animals that they live on the rough in remote wilderness for weeks or months at a time, undertaking both harrowing and tedious tasks in order to collect data for his study. Because the owls were elusive phantoms, not much was known about the birds. This meant that it was trial-and-error at the start for the team, leading to an eventual refinement of best practices—from how to capture owls for fitting with GPS units to track their movements to fording rivers whose ice cover was unreliable at best for crossing by the team’s caravan.
Aside from shedding light on the grueling, yet critical work field biologists and conservationists undertake to protect their endangered animals, Owls of the Eastern Ice introduced us to a colorful assortment of characters who aided the team during their mission. My favorite was a recluse who slept in a wooden pyramid for the positive energy it supposedly generated. But hey, the team preferred to sleep in a warm cabin when they could instead of their tents or vehicles. Thus, they overlooked the eccentricities of everyone they met, who tended to be genuinely curious about their work and wanted to help in whatever way they could. The team gratefully accepted their aid—from food to knowledge about the local geography and terrain.
Much vodka was drunk and many friends made along the multi-year journey.
While they encountered setbacks along the way, the team showed an admirable adaptability and were often able to salvage the situation, which was important, as often villages where they could find help were few and far between.
And their hard work paid off. Slaght’s study lead to the implementation of measures to protect the owl and its habitats, increasingly fragmented by human encroachment, especially by logging interests. Logging companies agreed to not cut down the old growth trees Blakiston’s Fish Owls prefer for hunting and nesting purposes—conveniently, these trees weren’t valuable to them economically and were mostly used to build temporary bridges—a critical victory in the fight to protect the owl, who doesn’t have the name recognition other endangered species have, say, like a panda or tiger.
This story is one of humanity, owls, struggle, and the beauty of the natural world. Definitely worth the read!
-Cora
Find this book and other titles within our catalog.
See also:
To learn more about this owl, please see: https://ebird.org/species/blfowl1
If interested in other owl-related books, try Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl (2008) by Stacey O'Brien
Having read Wesley the Owl (2008) not too long ago, I was craving another owl story. Instead of Barn Owls, Owls of the Eastern Ice: A Quest to Find and Save the World’s Largest Owl (2020) features a field scientist and conservationist chasing the rare Blakiston's Fish Owl over a period of five years through remote eastern Russian forests.
(A Blakiston's Fish Owl)
By Tokumi - オリジナル Tokumiが撮影 (initially uploaded on ja:ファイル:Wiki-shimafukurou.jpg), Public Domain, Link
Jonathan Slaght was entranced by his first fleeting sighting of the elusive and enigmatic owl when he was in Russia serving with the Peace Corps. Birdwatching was his hobby in those days. This set him on a path to undertake a five-year study of the world’s largest—and endangered—owl in graduate school. His assembled team of dedicated Russian conservationists, ornithologists (scientists who study birds), and experienced woodsmen doggedly pursue this mysterious owl through some of the most challenging terrain.
It speaks to Slaght’s and his team’s dedication to the preservation of these unique animals that they live on the rough in remote wilderness for weeks or months at a time, undertaking both harrowing and tedious tasks in order to collect data for his study. Because the owls were elusive phantoms, not much was known about the birds. This meant that it was trial-and-error at the start for the team, leading to an eventual refinement of best practices—from how to capture owls for fitting with GPS units to track their movements to fording rivers whose ice cover was unreliable at best for crossing by the team’s caravan.
Aside from shedding light on the grueling, yet critical work field biologists and conservationists undertake to protect their endangered animals, Owls of the Eastern Ice introduced us to a colorful assortment of characters who aided the team during their mission. My favorite was a recluse who slept in a wooden pyramid for the positive energy it supposedly generated. But hey, the team preferred to sleep in a warm cabin when they could instead of their tents or vehicles. Thus, they overlooked the eccentricities of everyone they met, who tended to be genuinely curious about their work and wanted to help in whatever way they could. The team gratefully accepted their aid—from food to knowledge about the local geography and terrain.
Much vodka was drunk and many friends made along the multi-year journey.
While they encountered setbacks along the way, the team showed an admirable adaptability and were often able to salvage the situation, which was important, as often villages where they could find help were few and far between.
And their hard work paid off. Slaght’s study lead to the implementation of measures to protect the owl and its habitats, increasingly fragmented by human encroachment, especially by logging interests. Logging companies agreed to not cut down the old growth trees Blakiston’s Fish Owls prefer for hunting and nesting purposes—conveniently, these trees weren’t valuable to them economically and were mostly used to build temporary bridges—a critical victory in the fight to protect the owl, who doesn’t have the name recognition other endangered species have, say, like a panda or tiger.
This story is one of humanity, owls, struggle, and the beauty of the natural world. Definitely worth the read!
-Cora
Find this book and other titles within our catalog.
See also:
To learn more about this owl, please see: https://ebird.org/species/blfowl1
If interested in other owl-related books, try Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl (2008) by Stacey O'Brien
February 21, 2022
Slaght has become an expert on the Blakiston’s fish owl during nearly two decades of fieldwork in the far east of Russia – much closer to Korea and Japan than to Moscow, the region is also home to Amur tigers. For his Master’s and PhD research at the University of Minnesota, he plotted the territories of breeding pairs of owls and fit them with identifying bands and data loggers to track their movements over the years. He describes these winter field seasons as recurring frontier adventures. Now, I’ve accompanied my husband on fieldwork from time to time, and I can tell you it would be hard to make it sound exciting. Then again, gathering beetles from English fields is pretty staid compared to piloting snowmobiles over melting ice, running from fire, speeding to avoid blockaded logging roads, and being served cleaning-grade ethanol when the vodka runs out.
The sorts of towns Slaght works near are primitive places where adequate food and fuel is a matter of life and death. He and his assistants rely on the hospitality of Anatoliy the crazy hermit and also stay in huts and caravans. Tracking the owls is a rollercoaster experience, with expensive equipment failures and trial and error to narrow down the most effective trapping methods. His team develops a new low-tech technique involving a tray of live fish planted in the river shallows under a net. They come to know individuals and mourn their loss: the Sha-Mi female he’s holding in his author photo was hit by a car four years later.
Slaght thinks of Russia as his second home, and you can sense his passion for the fish owl and for conservation in general. He boils down complicated data and statistics into the simple requirements for this endangered species (fewer than 2000 in the wild): valleys containing old-growth forest with large trees and rivers that don’t fully freeze over. There are only limited areas with these characteristics. These specifications and his ongoing research – Slaght is now the Northeast Asia Coordinator for the Wildlife Conservation Society – inform the policy recommendations given to logging companies and other bodies.
Amid the science, this is just a darn good story, full of bizarre characters like Katkov, a garrulous assistant exiled for his snoring. (“He fueled his monologue with sausage and cheese, then belched zeppelins of aroma into that confined space.”) Slaght himself doesn’t play much of a role in the book, so don’t expect a soul-searching memoir. Instead, you get top-notch nature and travel writing, and a ride along on a consequential environmentalist quest. This is the kind of science book that, like Lab Girl and Entangled Life, I’d recommend even if you don’t normally pick up nonfiction.
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
The sorts of towns Slaght works near are primitive places where adequate food and fuel is a matter of life and death. He and his assistants rely on the hospitality of Anatoliy the crazy hermit and also stay in huts and caravans. Tracking the owls is a rollercoaster experience, with expensive equipment failures and trial and error to narrow down the most effective trapping methods. His team develops a new low-tech technique involving a tray of live fish planted in the river shallows under a net. They come to know individuals and mourn their loss: the Sha-Mi female he’s holding in his author photo was hit by a car four years later.
Slaght thinks of Russia as his second home, and you can sense his passion for the fish owl and for conservation in general. He boils down complicated data and statistics into the simple requirements for this endangered species (fewer than 2000 in the wild): valleys containing old-growth forest with large trees and rivers that don’t fully freeze over. There are only limited areas with these characteristics. These specifications and his ongoing research – Slaght is now the Northeast Asia Coordinator for the Wildlife Conservation Society – inform the policy recommendations given to logging companies and other bodies.
Amid the science, this is just a darn good story, full of bizarre characters like Katkov, a garrulous assistant exiled for his snoring. (“He fueled his monologue with sausage and cheese, then belched zeppelins of aroma into that confined space.”) Slaght himself doesn’t play much of a role in the book, so don’t expect a soul-searching memoir. Instead, you get top-notch nature and travel writing, and a ride along on a consequential environmentalist quest. This is the kind of science book that, like Lab Girl and Entangled Life, I’d recommend even if you don’t normally pick up nonfiction.
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
May 20, 2021
3.5 stars
Set in the Primorye Province of Russia, this nonfiction book gives great insight into the habitat and activities of the Blakiston's Fish Owl. Determined to make this owl the subject of his PH.D., Jonathan Slaght spent four years studying the fish owl in this Russian region.
This owl being one of the most understudied birds and largest owls known are also one of the hardest to find and study. Slaght needed the help of many local people - most being hunters and woodsmen. The last portion of the study was to capture and tag these owls for future sightings and study. I found that to be the most interesting part of the book. The book also included a number of color pictures of both the owls and the men involved in helping Slaght with his study.
Parts of this book was pretty intense. I would say that it would be most enjoyable for a conservationist or bird enthusiast. However, I also found parts of the books and story to be enjoyable to the lay person.
Set in the Primorye Province of Russia, this nonfiction book gives great insight into the habitat and activities of the Blakiston's Fish Owl. Determined to make this owl the subject of his PH.D., Jonathan Slaght spent four years studying the fish owl in this Russian region.
This owl being one of the most understudied birds and largest owls known are also one of the hardest to find and study. Slaght needed the help of many local people - most being hunters and woodsmen. The last portion of the study was to capture and tag these owls for future sightings and study. I found that to be the most interesting part of the book. The book also included a number of color pictures of both the owls and the men involved in helping Slaght with his study.
Parts of this book was pretty intense. I would say that it would be most enjoyable for a conservationist or bird enthusiast. However, I also found parts of the books and story to be enjoyable to the lay person.
January 17, 2021
3.5 stars
I'm still laughing about the American man with hearing loss who misunderstood when he was introduced to a Russian man called Vova. "Is that guy's name really Vulva?"
March 17, 2021
As a graduate student, Jonathan C. Slaght studied fish owls in Primorye region (Primorsky Krai) in Russian Far Wast between 2006 to 2010. Owls of the Eastern Ice is a science book about an endangered species. These giant birds with two-meter wingspan are majestic looking predators.
This book is also a memoir of the author's experience as a field scientist in an unforgiving winter forest, weird anecdotes from Russian he encountered, sad losses in the animal world.
This book is also a memoir of the author's experience as a field scientist in an unforgiving winter forest, weird anecdotes from Russian he encountered, sad losses in the animal world.
July 13, 2021
I first heard of Blakiston's fish owls during some pandemic binging on nature shows. I was entranced.
So I entered a giveaway to win a copy of Jonathan C. Slaght's saga of his multi year study of the habitat and lives of these beautiful raptors.
I learned about fish owls from reading the book, but even more, I learned about the scientific process involved in research of this kind and the human interaction of the men and women who devote their lives to leaving civilization and living under brutal conditions to save life on our planet.
Many thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux for providing me with a free copy of "Owls of the Eastern Ice."
Reading it was a profoundly moving experience.
So I entered a giveaway to win a copy of Jonathan C. Slaght's saga of his multi year study of the habitat and lives of these beautiful raptors.
I learned about fish owls from reading the book, but even more, I learned about the scientific process involved in research of this kind and the human interaction of the men and women who devote their lives to leaving civilization and living under brutal conditions to save life on our planet.
Many thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux for providing me with a free copy of "Owls of the Eastern Ice."
Reading it was a profoundly moving experience.
August 17, 2020
I fell in love with this book! It’s a true story. I’m a nature lover by heart and, yet I have never read any true account like this. This book is about a man who accidentally stumbles upon an almost extinct Blakiston Fish Owl and then pursues a career in wildlife conservation to learn more about and to protect this endangered species. I learned about many more animal and birds in Russia’s Far East , along with the culture. I also had to chuckle about the various personalities and one I’m certain I’d say has schizophrenia. This wildlife biologist still works today and helps to continue to protect the fish owl along with the Siberian tiger and leopard.
January 5, 2021
I had high hopes for this book with an interesting premise in the world of nature and great reviews. I really like reading books set in parts of the world I am unfamiliar with - it becomes a great learning experience. I was also drawn because I love birding. The story concerns a biologist working on a PHD project in a far eastern Russian province studying Blakiston Fish Owls, the largest owls on the planet. They are also in danger from fishing and logging enterprises and conservation was one of the reasons for this project. I listened to this on Audible with the author doing a good job as narrator. Although interesting for awhile, the book then became rather tedious. The author and a team of other researchers/assistants spent parts of five years tracking the owls down, learning the best ways to trap them and then monitoring them with navigational devices. It was the same thing over and over as they traveled through woods and along rivers dealing with harsh weather and difficult living situations. Along the way there is a cast of Russian locals who helped give them a roof over their heads, meals and lots of vodka. I don’t know if the paper book has maps, charts and photos, but I could have really used them here. I needed to have a visual of the areas and towns where they traveled and stayed. It would have been great to see pictures of the beautiful scenery, the owls and the people that worked on this project. Of course with Audible, that was not possible. In spite of this being a rather intriguing sounding nature story, I found it boring some of the time.
June 2, 2021
Loved this book! I am not really a bird watcher but love to read about animals and nature and owls are just the cutest birds, aren't they?In this book Jonathan Slaght tells us about his study of Blakiston's Fish Owl, an endangered species, which he has done to create conservation for the birds.
The study took place several years in Primorye, a far east region in Russia. While data collection doesn't seem that exciting Jonathan Slaght manages to describe his work in a very interesting way. His encounter with owls and working on the study were a pleasure for me to read. I almost wished I was part of it even though I very well know that I would really not be happy with all that cold weather. Fish Owls weren't that well known when the study began but as it progresses we learn more and more about them and discoveries the scientist made.
Besides the owls we also get to know the region and Jonathan Slaght's encounters with the locals as well as his colleagues. Which also adds a lot to the book. His writing is great which makes the whole experience very interesting, entertaining and almost adventurous.
The ending feels very satisfying as we get to know how the research helped to increase the population of Blakiston's Fish Owl. They aren't as popular as the amur tigers, another endangered species in the area Jonathan Slaght works on, but hopefully this book will make more people fall in love with them and get support for the research and conservation.
The study took place several years in Primorye, a far east region in Russia. While data collection doesn't seem that exciting Jonathan Slaght manages to describe his work in a very interesting way. His encounter with owls and working on the study were a pleasure for me to read. I almost wished I was part of it even though I very well know that I would really not be happy with all that cold weather. Fish Owls weren't that well known when the study began but as it progresses we learn more and more about them and discoveries the scientist made.
Besides the owls we also get to know the region and Jonathan Slaght's encounters with the locals as well as his colleagues. Which also adds a lot to the book. His writing is great which makes the whole experience very interesting, entertaining and almost adventurous.
The ending feels very satisfying as we get to know how the research helped to increase the population of Blakiston's Fish Owl. They aren't as popular as the amur tigers, another endangered species in the area Jonathan Slaght works on, but hopefully this book will make more people fall in love with them and get support for the research and conservation.
February 6, 2025
3.5 stars. I loved the first half of the book, it was fascinating hearing about his travels and search into the deep Russian wilderness in search of the owls. However, once they found them and proceeded to trap and band them, I couldn't help but be disappointed at the invasiveness they were employing. Typical of humans! I understand they thought they were helping the species but going to those lengths to better know their territory area seemed excessive. I wish humans would leave nature alone sometimes.
September 17, 2020
Amazing book combines adventure, habitat preservation, nature, and a look at academic life. When I saw the cover, I knew I wanted to read this book. Although I am extremely frightened by birds, I am drawn to learn about them. The Fish Owl is huge in terms of bird size, with powerful claws that allow it to grab cold, slippery fish out of the water, and it is armed with a fierce beak to tear fish apart for dinner. Even more enticing is that the Fish Owl lives, among other places in a remote corner of a forest in ever mysterious northern Russia.
From the start, adventure is prominent. Dr. Slaght and his colleagues must locate where Fish Owls reside. His aim is to gather information about where they live and hunt to attempt to establish zones protected from lumber companies in the area that damage habitat. Fish Owls need large older trees with holes in them to use as nest sites. Since they primarily eat fish, they need to be near a river that doesn’t freeze in winter. So, the researchers spend time at dusk in the forest listening for the Fish Owl’s distinctive call. Check on YouTube and you can hear one. Very cool. To work in the forest the researchers must cut paths, ford streams and rivers, and use snowmobiles and skis. Few people live in these very remote areas, so the researchers often find themselves sleeping in a tent, a makeshift shelter in sleeping bags, their vehicle, or in the cabin of some eccentric Russian. Food is also difficult to come by and they eat fish they have caught or deer meat they buy from hunters in the forest.
Learning to capture these large birds without harming them presents a challenge to be overcome, but these intrepid men are up to the challenge. Measuring, tagging, and taking blood samples from the owls without getting hurt or hurting them is also difficult, and I believe every member of the crew is at one time or another bitten or scratched by a Fish Owl. Attaching transmitters to the owls helps Dr. Slaght gather the information he needs for his Ph.D. dissertation and his habitat recommendations. Technical difficulties present themselves when transmitters fail to work or the owls peck them off.
Getting a Ph.D. isn’t easy. Dr. Slaght spends 5 years setting up and gathering data. He also must look for funding for his project in terms of applying for grants to purchase equipment and other necessities for his field work. Then inputting and analyzing the data, coming to conclusions, and writing his dissertation are arduous tasks. His work is well worth the effort because due to the information he acquires from field work and the conclusions he comes to result in recommendations, that if adopted, will hopefully serve to protect this unique bird in Russia and elsewhere.
April 25, 2021
This quite simply, an incredible story, beautifully told, and I will be surprised if it isn't one of my Books of the Year.
Slaght first encounters the Blakiston’s fish owl on a hike in 2000, when he was stationed with the Peace Corps in Russia’s Far East. This rare bird is a salmon-eating raptor with a two metre wingspan and it would become the focus of his doctoral thesis and of course, this book. There are probably fewer than 2,000 of them worldwide. This is the primeval and largely untouched forests of Primorye, near the borders of Russia, China and North Korea.
The subject of the book maybe the owl, but this is about the life of a conservationist, and the field work, long nights in freezing conditions, many miles from any town, with a variety of Russina colleagues. Two are particualrly of interest; the hermit Anatoliy who puts them up for a while, and his Russian counterpart Katkov, perpetually either snoring or whispering loudly, and often emitting a 'zeppelin of aroma'.
His conclusions are particularly fascinating, and when explained to us in such a way, conservation seems so simple... And there's even a twist, in the Epilogue.
Here's a couple of snippets..
Slaght first encounters the Blakiston’s fish owl on a hike in 2000, when he was stationed with the Peace Corps in Russia’s Far East. This rare bird is a salmon-eating raptor with a two metre wingspan and it would become the focus of his doctoral thesis and of course, this book. There are probably fewer than 2,000 of them worldwide. This is the primeval and largely untouched forests of Primorye, near the borders of Russia, China and North Korea.
The subject of the book maybe the owl, but this is about the life of a conservationist, and the field work, long nights in freezing conditions, many miles from any town, with a variety of Russina colleagues. Two are particualrly of interest; the hermit Anatoliy who puts them up for a while, and his Russian counterpart Katkov, perpetually either snoring or whispering loudly, and often emitting a 'zeppelin of aroma'.
His conclusions are particularly fascinating, and when explained to us in such a way, conservation seems so simple... And there's even a twist, in the Epilogue.
Here's a couple of snippets..
Deer experience 'capture myopathy’, meaning that a capture by a predator can trigger an irreversible physical decline that they cannot recover from: they simply die even if they manage to free themselves.
This concernes the Siberian musk deer, an incredible creature in its own right, nicknamed the vampire kangaroo.Primorye is, more so than most of the temperate zone, a place where humans and wildlife still share the same resources. There are fishermen and salmon, loggers and fish owls, hunters and tigers.
Towards the end of the book Slaght plans an itinerary for the assessor of his thesis, visiting from the US.
The book left me hungry to do two things; read Vladimir Arsenyev, who explored and adventured in the area in the early 1900s, and secondly, to go there, with that assessor's itinerary..
October 14, 2020
A truly fantastic account of a young conservation scientist's quest to understand and protect the world's largest owl in the wilds of eastern Russia. The journey follows Dr. Jonathan Slaght over his 5 years of surveying the Blackiston's Fish Owl in Primorye, the region of Russia that sits next to China, North Korea and across the sea from Japan. It is not only an inside look at the joys and pains of grueling fieldwork but also a love letter to the natural landscape, a memoir of a scientist, and an incredible look at the people of this region and a handful of scrappy, seemingly insane, but widely devoted field crews in the Russian frontier.
Not only was I entranced by the landscape and the secretive nature of these wild owls, I also found myself completely absorbed by the ragtag crew and all of the locals that supported them along the way. Most importantly, from the perspective of a conservationist, this work has ultimately led to a greater understanding of the species and the implementation of a conservation plan that will allow this small population of birds to hopefully thrive into the future.
I highly recommend this to anyone interested in conservation, the last frontiers on the planet, interesting travel stories, scientific fieldwork, or those that just like a gripping tale.
There is absolutely no doubt as to why this book made the longlist for the Booker Prize this year!
Not only was I entranced by the landscape and the secretive nature of these wild owls, I also found myself completely absorbed by the ragtag crew and all of the locals that supported them along the way. Most importantly, from the perspective of a conservationist, this work has ultimately led to a greater understanding of the species and the implementation of a conservation plan that will allow this small population of birds to hopefully thrive into the future.
I highly recommend this to anyone interested in conservation, the last frontiers on the planet, interesting travel stories, scientific fieldwork, or those that just like a gripping tale.
There is absolutely no doubt as to why this book made the longlist for the Booker Prize this year!
July 26, 2021
3.5 🦉🦉🦉
March 19, 2021
With proper management we’ll always see fish in the rivers here, and we’ll continue to follow tracks of tigers that weave among pine and shadow in search of prey. And, standing in the forest under the right conditions, we’ll hear the salmon hunters too—the fish owls—announcing like town criers that all is well: Primorye is still wild.
First of all, hats off to Slaght for his excellent research and the huge impact he's had on the knowledge-base for this species as well as its prospects for continued success in Russia and Japan.
This was an absolutely excellent read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a compelling blend of the everyday life of Slaght's time doing field work in a remote part of Russia and details of his research on the owls. Evidently there are some pretty interesting folk out there in Primorye and I learned a lot about their culture which obviously wasn't what I came to this book for but proved to be a delightful side-dish. The individuals who helped Slaght were interesting too and I enjoyed Slaght's account of his time with them, particularly Anatoliy who has some pretty wild ideas about Egyptians and triangles and was a joy to read about.
If you have any interest in owls/conservation/field research/remote parts of Russia etc. then this is definitely something you ought to read.
First of all, hats off to Slaght for his excellent research and the huge impact he's had on the knowledge-base for this species as well as its prospects for continued success in Russia and Japan.
This was an absolutely excellent read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a compelling blend of the everyday life of Slaght's time doing field work in a remote part of Russia and details of his research on the owls. Evidently there are some pretty interesting folk out there in Primorye and I learned a lot about their culture which obviously wasn't what I came to this book for but proved to be a delightful side-dish. The individuals who helped Slaght were interesting too and I enjoyed Slaght's account of his time with them, particularly Anatoliy who has some pretty wild ideas about Egyptians and triangles and was a joy to read about.
If you have any interest in owls/conservation/field research/remote parts of Russia etc. then this is definitely something you ought to read.
September 1, 2021
In reading this book you will undoubtedly come to admire and really like Jonathan C. Slaght. His enthusiasm for the Blakiston's Fish Owl comes from the pages in earnest bursts of excitement over sighting or hearing the duet of a pair. He is also a very good writer, which is a bonus.
The Blakiston's Fish Owl, the largest of the owls, is an endangered species, and it lives in the areas around the Sea of Japan. I've read descriptions of the cities of Russia in the western part of the country and often hear of Siberia, that giant mass of land, in generalized terms, but Slaght's fieldwork takes him to the province of Primorye, which borders China, North Korea, and the Sea of Japan. It was fascinating to read about the particular towns within this area, completely unknown to me before reading this book.
I love owls, and I loved the moments of the book in which Slaght is conducting field work. I also happened to love the parts in which he is socializing with people. We are introduced to many of the people who live and/or work in the area, some living in tiny structures in the middle of the woods... people Slaght muses might be criminals or people hiding from criminals (one of the people we meet does indeed fit one of those descriptions). Since Slaght is fluent in Russian, he is able to form close bonds with a some of the people. Some great stories are told in the moments between fieldwork.
He and his research team truly have an adventure that involves everything from fording frozen rivers to bathing in radon hot springs. All worth it to research the fish owl so that it may continue to live and, hopefully one day, thrive in an increasingly industrial world.
Thank you to Macmillan Publishing for the copy.
The Blakiston's Fish Owl, the largest of the owls, is an endangered species, and it lives in the areas around the Sea of Japan. I've read descriptions of the cities of Russia in the western part of the country and often hear of Siberia, that giant mass of land, in generalized terms, but Slaght's fieldwork takes him to the province of Primorye, which borders China, North Korea, and the Sea of Japan. It was fascinating to read about the particular towns within this area, completely unknown to me before reading this book.
I love owls, and I loved the moments of the book in which Slaght is conducting field work. I also happened to love the parts in which he is socializing with people. We are introduced to many of the people who live and/or work in the area, some living in tiny structures in the middle of the woods... people Slaght muses might be criminals or people hiding from criminals (one of the people we meet does indeed fit one of those descriptions). Since Slaght is fluent in Russian, he is able to form close bonds with a some of the people. Some great stories are told in the moments between fieldwork.
He and his research team truly have an adventure that involves everything from fording frozen rivers to bathing in radon hot springs. All worth it to research the fish owl so that it may continue to live and, hopefully one day, thrive in an increasingly industrial world.
Thank you to Macmillan Publishing for the copy.
February 29, 2020
I have always thought owls are beautiful and mysterious creatures. I own two intricate wood carvings and a set of three who nest on my mantelpiece. Slaght’s work, however, taught me to look beyond their majestic beauty and see their fight for survival.
Owls of the Eastern Ice charts Slaght’s time as a P.h.D student searching for the Blakiston’s fish owl and ways to protect the species in the Primorye region of Russia. Slaght captivated me from beginning to end.
Through reading I became enraptured by the vast and often menacing landscape of Primorye. I was fascinated as Slaght and the team uncovered fish owl secrets and the camaraderie between the field team was palpable. Several times I held my breath as they struggled relentlessly to achieve their aims.
Slaght also introduced me to several very interesting individuals as well as shining a light on the small communities of this region, and their hospitality, often kept in the dark.
Overall, Owls of the Eastern Ice is exceptionally written and has created an appetite for non-fiction I never imagined I would have.
Owls of the Eastern Ice charts Slaght’s time as a P.h.D student searching for the Blakiston’s fish owl and ways to protect the species in the Primorye region of Russia. Slaght captivated me from beginning to end.
Through reading I became enraptured by the vast and often menacing landscape of Primorye. I was fascinated as Slaght and the team uncovered fish owl secrets and the camaraderie between the field team was palpable. Several times I held my breath as they struggled relentlessly to achieve their aims.
Slaght also introduced me to several very interesting individuals as well as shining a light on the small communities of this region, and their hospitality, often kept in the dark.
Overall, Owls of the Eastern Ice is exceptionally written and has created an appetite for non-fiction I never imagined I would have.
May 20, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
This book about fish owls was very interesting. Fish owls are the largest owls found anywhere in the world. They are native to Eastern Russia and Japan.
The author is an ornithologist who studied this not well known species for 5 or 6 years. In fact, his dissertation for his PHD was based on his incredible first hand knowledge earned from field work done under grueling winter conditions. I definitely learned something about birds of which I knew nada.
I regret listening to the audio version narrated by the author because I imagine there are great photos and maps in the paper or Kindle editions. The author was a good narrator, but it was hard to visualize exactly where he was in the world and many of the Russian names for rivers and regions sort of got lost in the audio for me.
I would be interested in a physical copy of this book.
The 52 Book Club Challenge - 2024
Prompt #39 - Non-fiction recommended by friend
.
This book about fish owls was very interesting. Fish owls are the largest owls found anywhere in the world. They are native to Eastern Russia and Japan.
The author is an ornithologist who studied this not well known species for 5 or 6 years. In fact, his dissertation for his PHD was based on his incredible first hand knowledge earned from field work done under grueling winter conditions. I definitely learned something about birds of which I knew nada.
I regret listening to the audio version narrated by the author because I imagine there are great photos and maps in the paper or Kindle editions. The author was a good narrator, but it was hard to visualize exactly where he was in the world and many of the Russian names for rivers and regions sort of got lost in the audio for me.
I would be interested in a physical copy of this book.
The 52 Book Club Challenge - 2024
Prompt #39 - Non-fiction recommended by friend
.
January 6, 2021
I think that working as a field biologist is one of the most interesting jobs on Earth, so I am very grateful to Jonathan Slaght for sharing his experiences with the readers (and for the important work that he’s been doing). He is a fantastic storyteller so this book was a real pleasure. I am fascinated by Primorye since reading John Vailiant’s “Tiger” but I haven’t heard anything about fish owls earlier, so It was really illuminating.
August 15, 2021
This is the story of an American PhD student working in Siberia to track the Fish Owl. The world's largest owl is elusive. It's habitat includes eastern Russia, and Japan, where a breeding program has vastly expanded the population. Slaught describes the rugged and freezing terrain he works with Russian colleagues, as well as the extreme challenges of their work. This is a book for readers interested in the details of naturalists' fieldwork, and endangered species.
February 3, 2024
This was awesome. It felt like an adventure novel made real. Not only was there a lot about fish owls but there was a ton about eastern Russian culture as well. Oh, and I nearly forgot. So many MN connections!!
October 24, 2020
Oh man, this book worked *so* well for me! The nature - the owls, the wilderness, the Siberian winter - is so relaxing and just.. pleasant to listen to. But what makes the book really click for me are the encounters between this crazy American and all the crazy Russians he meets in the Siberian far east. Most of the episodes had me cackling. I also teared up a little at the very end haha - and I say this as a person who has no real interest in animals. Wonderful book, recommended to anyone who wants something entertaining, peaceful, and wintery.
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