Owl & Woodpecker : Encounters with North America’s Most Iconic Birds

o An in-depth look at two of our most iconic-and important-bird species
o Great for photography lovers, conservationists, and backyard enthusiasts alike
o Foreword by award-winning artist and writer Tony Angell
o Includes an audio CD of bird calls

Every wild place and urban area in North America hosts an owl or a woodpecker species, while healthy natural places often boast representatives of both. The diversity of these two families of birds, and the ways in which they define and enrich the ecosystems they inhabit, are the subject of this vivid new book by photographer and naturalist Paul Bannick.

The Owl and the Woodpecker showcases a sense of these birds' natural rhythms, as well as the integral spirit of our wild places. Based on thousands of hours in the field photographing these fascinating and wily birds, Bannick evokes all 41 North American species of owls and woodpeckers, across 11 key habitats. And by revealing the impact of two of our most iconic birds, Bannick has created a wholly unique approach to birding and conservation.

The Bellingham Herald

"Readers will gain a better appreciation for the complex lives of these birds."

Picas Blog

"I find it hard to pull my eyes away from the absolutely stunning photography… This book will appeal to any birder, and really anybody simply interested in nature and how it's inhabitants' affect, and are affected by it. But if you are a fanatic about either or both families [of bird], this is definitely a book that you will want to add to your library."

Bird Pics Blog

"The Owl and the Woodpecker pretty much blew me away with the jaw dropping, envy-inducing quality of the photos… [This is] as good as it gets with bird photography, razor sharp and with great detail, great composition, and telling a great story."

Seattle Post Intelligencer

"A dramatic collection of color photos of owls and woodpeckers and their varied habitats."

Living the Scientific Life

"Most Americans have not seen all of the 41 species of owls and woodpeckers that share the North American continent with us, [and] not only has Paul Bannick seen them all, but he has photographed them all, too. And when I say, "photographed," I am not talking about those blurry snapshots that most of us snap, but instead, his images are big, sharp, clear and for want of a better phrase, absolutely stunning… The reader's eyes will quickly wander away [from the text] to the images, which are striking, beautiful and often dramatic." "Bannick's informative yet informal first-person written narrative creates an easy intimacy with the reader that is often lacking in many other more formal bird books… While this lovely volume can easily serve as a "coffee table book," based on the quality of the images alone, the text is more informative than found in the average book of photography, and this book will inform and captivate bird [lovers], nature lovers, and fans of owls and woodpeckers. Highly recommended."

The Everett Herald

"Paul Bannick takes us on a photographic journey across North America in search of 41 species of owls and woodpeckers in 11 habitats."

Alaska Airlines Magazine

"[Paul] Bannick combines his stunning images-- many taken during kayaking, hiking and snowshoeing excursions in the Pacific Northwest-- with engaging firsthand observations and natural history."