Lovely owls? It turns out this mysterious species is not simple!

Owls have fascinated humans for thousands of years. It's not just their mysterious, roaming, searching eyes that set them apart from other birds, but their intelligent behavior. Humanity's fascination with owls was first documented in cave paintings in southern France more than 30,000 years ago. But what do owls really know about the world? And how much do we know about them? Only recently have scientists begun to gain insight into the complex nature of these remarkable birds.

Today there are approximately 260 species of owls in the world, living on every continent except Antarctica. Although they are numerous, they are more difficult to find and study than other birds because their behavior is often mysterious, camouflaged, and they mostly come out in the dark of night.

Zoologist Jennifer Ackerman has conducted field observations of owls. During her expeditions, she has delved into why owls deceive humans and other puzzling behaviors, and brought this research to life through her written descriptions. Her latest book, "Owl Wisdom: The New Science of the World's Most Mysterious Birds," is an awe-inspiring exploration of owls and human history around the world. The book provides a fascinating look at owls' amazing hunting skills, communication abilities, and sensory abilities, uncovering the essence of this mysterious group of birds while explaining the rich biology and natural history of these birds.

Jennifer Ackerman is an owl scientist who explores how modern technology and tools can help us understand how owls communicate, hunt, court, mate, raise their young, and move through space as the seasons change. We now know that owls' calls follow very complex rules that allow them to express not only their needs and desires, but also their personalities and identities. Owls sing duets, migrate, and hoard prey. Some live in underground burrows, some live in large flocks, and some feed on black widow spiders and scorpions.

The relationship between owls and humans is also a highlight of the author's research. Owls are ubiquitous in the art and folklore of many countries. Seeing an owl is considered lucky in some cultures, while in others it is a sign of bad luck or even death.

Currently, human behavior has threatened the survival of owls. Deforestation, overuse of rodenticides, climate change, urbanization, and the deliberate killing of owls for medicine or cultural rituals have led to a global decline in the number of owls, and some species are even on the verge of extinction. The publication of this book is of great significance and value for the study and protection of this mysterious and fascinating species.

(The author is a professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and a researcher at the International Center for the Advancement of Science Literacy)