Stacey O'Brien

Chronicles the author's rescue of an abandoned barn owlet, from her efforts to resuscitate and raise the young owl through their nineteen years together, during which the author made key discoveries about owl behavior.

The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl

Wesley the Owl

Sarah Sammis

Wesley the Owl by Stacey O'Brien is one of those wonderful books where the planets are in alignment to create a perfect read. Reading is a very personal thing. For me its elements of my life, my interests, and those random synchronicities that makes a perfect read.

In 1985, biologist and assistant at Caltech's owl laboratory, Stacey O'Brien was asked to foster a four day old barn owl. He had nerve damage to his wings and couldn't be released into the wild. His best option was being hand raised as a wild animal in a controlled environment.

Now if this book were just about Stacey and Wesley it would have been a fascinating, informative and memorable read. However, the Caltech connection and of course the owl connection made the book extra special.

For the first two years of my marriage I lived in Caltech married student housing. The way she describes Caltech and the research being done, both in terms of the science and the scientists, brought back memories of living there.

Finally there is Wesley himself. I learned so much about barn owls from reading O'Brien's observations of life with Wesley. Where we now live there are approximately 50 mated pairs of owls. In the late winter to early spring the night time is noisy with all the screeching of owlets calling for food. While I've always liked having them around I've come away with a greater appreciation for these wonderful owls.

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I picked this book up on a whim and I'm glad I did. This is a very entertaining and informative memoir of a biologist who raises a barn owl. Ms. O'Brien spares no detail, no matter how icky, from her tale and that's part of what makes it so captivating. 

Wesley was a 4-day-old orphaned owlet when he came into Ms. O'Brien's life. She took on the responsibility of raising him knowing that he would never be able to be released due to nerve damage in his wing. That meant that Wesley was hers for life, which for Wesley, was almost 20 years.

Raising a barn owl is a very consuming task. Throughout his life, Wesley required daily feedings of at least 6 mice, which she had to kill for him since he was unable to hunt. Once Wesley had "imprinted" on her, they were committed for life, literally. Once an owl forms an attachment, losing that often causes their death. This bond, while very fulfilling for her, also made it difficult to do simple things, like date or go on owl-less vacations. She did have a couple of people who could "owl-sit" in a pinch although things were always dicey when she was away. Reading about her mother donning protective gloves, clothes, and helmet and feeding Wesley using BBQ tongs made me laugh out loud. I could not imagine my mother doing something similar. Also, passages describing owl "no-no's" were funny. Wesley had a way of shaking his head when he was highly agitated and ready to attack and the owl no-no's were always a warning sign of trouble.

From describing her mouse-killing methods to having an owl "mate" with her arm to cleaning up owl pellets and dead-mouse bits from her room, she tells it all. I was left with a deep admiration of her dedication to Wesley, and the absolute knowledge that there is NO WAY that I would ever be up to this task. I mean, I don't even like dog hair on the floor.

Ms. O'Brien also describes owl behavior in general and Wesley's particular traits so that I feel that I've learned a good deal about barn owls, all while being entertained. She makes a point to highlight her belief that animals are sentient beings, capable of thought, love, loyalty, fear, loneliness, sorrow, and joy. And while some, including me, would view 18 years of this kind of animal care as difficult, there is no question that it was an act of love for Ms. O'Brien.

Wesley the Owl The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl

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