"I’m almost embarrassed to admit how much time I’ve spent hiking and searching for great gray owls. Occasionally people ask me why I work so hard for encounters such as this, considering that these “phantoms of the north” share habitat with species as notable and notorious as grizzly bears and wolves. "'It’s just an owl' is a phrase that can only be uttered by someone that has never seen one in person. "An encounter with a great gray is like nothing else. I’ve spoken at length about the confidence shown by big cats in Africa, and how it affects their behavior, and how distinct it is from all other creatures on the savanna. "The confidence and true ambivalence and indifference shown by great gray owls is unmatched, even by the kings of the jungle. I’ve spent hours with these owls, and they’ve barely acknowledged my presence. They simply don’t seem to care, as they know they can disappear in a moment if they want to. Trust me: if they don’t want to be seen, you are not going to see them. "In this moment, a young recently-fledged great gray perched atop this lichen-covered limb as it initiated one of the first hunts of its life. "Encounters with these creatures are always special as they are so rare and hard-fought, but this one was so peaceful and inspiring. I’d love to share the entire story with you."
