This is a book about the fish owl, one of the largest owls in the world. And this is an American book about Russia. The feathered giant settles in virgin forests near fish-rich reservoirs, and just such conditions can still be found in Russian Primorye in the Far East. That's why this is where aspiring ornithologist Jonathan Slat met the mysterious and rare bird - a life-changing encounter for the scientist. Together with Russian colleagues, Slat goes in search of fish owls in order to develop a plan for saving the endangered species. They are waiting for frosty nights with duty in tents, crazy snowmobile races on melting river ice, hopes and good luck, annoying mistakes. The main characters of the book are fish owls: dexterous hunters, devoted parents, performers of mesmerizing duets - they cannot but be loved after the author. There are also "minor" characters - people who are accustomed to surviving in the harsh conditions of taiga forests. Much in Russia is a curiosity to the American, and this gives a special flavor to the stories about the everyday life of field researchers and about (often not moderately) hospitable residents of the Primorsky Territory. Dramatic and lyrical scenes, well-aimed and ironic observations - everything in the narrative is subordinated to the thought of the beauty and vulnerability of wildlife.