by Eric Blehm
First published 2011
Carlos and Donna Royal install a wooden nesting box with a camera in their Southern California backyard. When wild barn owls Molly and McGee choose this box as their home, Carlos begins documenting their lives through photography. Working in complete darkness, he relies on sound, instinct, and careful timing to capture the owls' nocturnal flights and family behaviors. The Royal couple witness the owls face dangers and mysteries while raising their young. Carlos takes over ten thousand photographs of the owl family, selecting one hundred of his best images for this visual chronicle. The book reveals the hidden world of these ancient predators through stunning photography that illuminates their survival strategies, hunting techniques, and family bonds. What begins as a simple backyard wildlife project becomes an intimate portrait of creatures that have thrived since prehistoric times.
Genres: biography, nature, animals, photography
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
Setting: Southern California
121 pages · Hardcover · Molly the Owl Books