Owl the heroine of the album “Cuba” by Lech Wilczek

Abstract

The subject of the description in the article is a book, or rather an album, published 50 years ago, in which the author of the text and photos is Lech Wilczek. I give basic information about the charismatic writer, photographer and naturalist. I discuss the contents of the book, the protagonist of which is an owl raised for some time in the author’s Warsaw art studio. I pay attention to the stages of the story, descriptions of the bird’s appearance and its relationship with other animals, especially with the raccoon Balbinka. I write about the author’s expeditions to nature reserves and his other books, whose protagonists include such animals as hamsters, badgers and a raven.