Alfie and Me: What Owls Know, What Humans Believe [B0385]

2023 HCDJ, A moving account of raising, then freeing, an orphaned owl, whose lasting friendship with the author illuminates humanity's relationship with the world. When ecologist Carl Safina and his wife, Patricia, took in a near-death baby owl, they expected that, like other wild orphans they'd rescued, she'd be a temporary presence. But Alfie's feathers were not growing correctly, requiring prolonged care. And soon Carl and Patricia began to realize that the healing was mutual. Alfie & Me is the story of the remarkable impact this little owl would have on their lives. The continuing bond of trust following her freedom-and her raising of her own wild brood-drew Carl and Patricia across the boundary into Alfie's world, allowing them a view of existence from Alfie's perspective. Interwoven with Safina's reflections on humankind's relationship with the living world across cultures and throughout history, Alfie & Me is a work of profound beauties and magical timing harbored within one upended year.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "What a delightful book! I loved reading about Alfie's rescue, her progress, and then mating and mothering. I also appreciated the western and indigenous philosophical view that accompanied this story. The author's knowledge of science, philosophy, and history is interspersed throughout, and made this book special for me."; "This beautiful book tells the heart-warming story of the rescue and rehabilitation of a female eastern screech owl. It also examines human connections to the natural world through time, with enlightening philosophical musings, and inspiring insights into indigenous cultures."