Book Club
Current Book
Join us on December 2, 2025 at 7:00 pm at Cancun Mexican Grill for a lively discussion of this month’s book “What An Owl Knows” by Jennifer Ackerman. Books can be checked out at the library Circulation Desk, or put on hold here.
Copies of the book are available at LTPL and also as a downloadable e-book and audiobook on Libby. Please contact the library if you need assistance in how to use Libby or Hoopla on your own device
Download the eBook or audiobook on Libby here.
Book Summary
WHAT AN OWL KNOWS explores what we’ve learned in the past decade or two about owls , those enigmatic, fascinating, and elusive birds.
It looks at how owls communicate— in much more complicated ways than we ever imagined, how they court, mate, raise their young, whether they act from instinct alone or from intelligence and learning, how they relate to one another—and to us.
And it explores the people obsessed with these magnificent birds, from biologists and conservationists who have devoted their lives to owls, to citizen scientists like Steve Hiro, a retired heart surgeon who is now one of the foremost experts on the breeding biology of Northern Pygmy Owls and Marjon Savelsberg, a Dutch musician, classically trained, who has focused her skilled ear on the world of owl vocalizations. And also people who work one-on-one with owls to heal them if they’re injured or train them to be animal ambassadors. The book is about what we’ve learned about some of the deepest mysteries of owl biology and behavior, their individuality, personality, emotions, and intelligence.
All are welcome! No registration required.
Discussion Questions
1. Jennifer Ackerman notes that scientists have only recently begun to understand the complex nature of owls due to modern technology. What specific technologies or research methods described in the book did you find most surprising or impactful?
2. The book delves into ingenious adaptations, such as the owl’s facial disk which acts like a parabolic reflector to gather sound, and their silent flight. Which biological adaptation did you find most fascinating, and why?
3. Ackerman explores whether owls act from instinct alone or from intelligence and learning. What evidence from the book supports the idea that owls are intelligent, and how does this challenge the traditional view of “bird brains”?
4. The author joins scientists in the field to observe behaviors like communication, hunting, courtship and migration. What particular field story or observation stuck with you the most?
5. One chapter discusses how much we’ve learned from captive, often rehabilitated, birds. What unique insights did the research on captive owls provide that might be difficult to obtain in the wild?
6. The afterward touches on conservation and the threats owls face, including habitat destruction and cultural beliefs. What role can changing cultural attitudes, especially among children, play in protecting these birds?
7. Owls have long been symbols of wisdom, knowledge or even harbingers of death in different cultures. How has the scientific information presented in the book altered your personal perception of owls and their “wisdom”?
8. In one interview, a volunteer says “I could really use an owl right now”, finding that working with them helps with compassion fatigue. What do you think she means by this, and how can connecting with nature or a specific animal provide a unique perspective on human life?
9. The book highlights the passion of the scientists and volunteers who study these elusive birds. How did their dedication influence your reading experience or your view of scientific fieldwork?
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