In the preface to his new book, Len Soucy calls his subject "one of the most misunderstood groups of all birds."

Supporting that claim, he writes: "Owls seem to evoke a wide variety of feelings in humans. They are adored by many people and despised by others. They’re often feared, yet often idolized. They are perceived as everything from spooky and evil omens to admirable and magnificent birds. They’ve been called everything from cute to repulsive. At times they’ve been venerated; at times, they’ve been wantonly destroyed. It’s been a long and curious relationship between owls and humans."

The 62-page book is entitled New Jersey’s Owls. Soucy, its author, is the founder and president of The Raptor Trust, the noted wild-bird rehabilitation center located in Great Swamp (on White Bridge Road, Millington).

Published earlier this year, Soucy’s book is a compendium of facts, figures, photos and illustrations arranged in three sections: "The Living Bird," which gives a general overview of the two owl families tytonidae and strigidae; "Species Accounts," which provides details about the eight owls most often found in New Jersey; and "Owl Gallery," which features the author’s color photos of the same eight owl species. There’s also a comprehensive glossary to help the novice, and a bibliography for further reading. Throughout, the work of Pennsylvania illustrator Michael McNelly is displayed.