New York Times Best Seller
LA Times Best Seller
Audubon Magazine Editor’s Choice
People Magazine 4 of 4 Stars
Indie Top Ten
NOW IN PAPERBACK
WESLEY THE OWL is a heart-wrenching and heart-felt story of the deep, reciprocal, and enduring emotional bonds that developed between Stacey O’Brien and her long time friend. It’s an inspiring example of how animals are able to reveal to us who they really are and who we really are when we allow them to express themselves openly and safely. Profoundly passionate and personal, this remarkable book shows how we can all increase our compassion footprint in a human-dominated world. Read it and share widely. I sure will.
Marc Bekoff, University of Colorado; author of The Emotional Lives of Animals, Animals Matter, and Wild Justice: Reflections on Empathy, Fair Play, and Morality in Animals (forthcoming)
The best of love stories between two intelligent beings, told (by the human) with good humor and remarkable insights into the mind of an owl- I couldn’t put it down.
Don Kroodsma, The Singing Life of Birds– An Intimate Guide to the Private Lives of Birds: How, When, Why, and Where Birds Sing– The Art and Science of Listening to Birdsong. Professor Emeritus at the University of Massechusetts, Amherst, visiting fellow at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.
“I LOVE Wesley the Owl! Not since Konrad Lorenz have I read such an honest, vivid, and revealing account of the rich and complex life of an individual bird. Stacey O’Brien has captured the essence of the soul of an unforgettable owl. Affectionate, quirky, joyous and wise, Wesley shows us the Way of the Owl – the way to God and grace. This book is destined to become a classic, and will deepen importantly the way we understand birds.”
Sy Montgomery, author of The Good Good Pig
“Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl by Stacey O’Brien, is the spunky, undeterred, smart, resourceful, and endearing battle of wits between human and owl. Readers’ emotional investment in this true story grows with each page. Intelligent,20 informative, and image-filled, the book is spiked with comical and outright hilarious accounts, as well as poignancy and heartbreak. “Normal” life for this single, attractive, and bright young woman, who is a biologist and wild animal behavior specialist, was put on hold for nearly 20 years. Everything revolved around her responsibility to Wesley. But the tradeoff was a life enriched beyond measure by their unusual bond – a daily accumulation of irreplaceable moments. Like the owl hug. A magical and breathtaking expression of trust. This exceptionally well-written love story will wrap its arms around you, too.
08.04.09 Christian Science Monitor
“Wesley the Owl is beautiful, funny, transcendental, fascinating, and powerful. I LOVED THIS BOOK!”
Lynne Cox, author of Grayson and Swimming to Antarctica
An inside look at the mind of an owl. If you are interested in animal intelligence, you should read this book.
Temple Grandin, author Animals in Translation
“Most “me and my bird” stories are mildly entertaining at best, but Wesley the Owl is a different animal altogether. Stacey O’Brien got to know this owl with a unique combination of deep scientific understanding and rare emotional intensity, and the result is stunning, unforgettable. Read this book and you will never see owls, or humans, in the same light again.”
Kenn Kaufman, author of Kingbird Highway and Flights Against the Sunset
“This fun book reminded me of Marley & Me, but with wings. Warm, weird, and wonderful, Wesley the Owl is proof that man’s best friend sometimes has feathers.”
Mark Obmascik, author of The Big Year
“Wesley will make you wonder if owls are not at least as wise as humans and as capable of compassion. Wesley the Owl will stretch your notions about the limits of interspecies communication and love. It will entertain, delight and, finally, cause you to weep. Guaranteed.”
Sam Keen, author of Sightings: Extraordinary Encounters With Ordinary Birds
“From wingtip to wingtip, Wesley the Owl will open your heart to feathered wisdom. And you will learn some astonishing facts about birds and other creatures from a compassionate scientist dedicated to saving lives.”
Don Höglund, DVM, author of Nobody’s Horses
“With an eye for detail not often seen in books about animals Stacey O’Brien tells her fascinating story with great passion. This wonderful, enchanting book makes one understand that the bond we have with animals goes beyond the “norm” of dogs and cats and can cross over to all of nature. Wesley the Owl is a true testament that love comes in many shapes, sizes, fur and feathers.”
Randy Grim, author of Miracle Dog, subject of The Man Who Talks to Dogs
“Stacey O’Brien’s relationship with an unreleaseable Barn Owl spanned almost two decades, and she tells their story of mutual devotion with an irresistible combination of empathy, humor and keen observation. Wesley the Owl captivated me from the first page…it is a beautiful, inspiring book.”
Suzie Gilbert, Wildlife Rehabilitator and author of Hawk Hill
