Meet Alfie
Watch Her
Raise Her Family
Step quietly into the world of a devoted owl mother, Alfie, her mate Jack, and their growing owlets…
And learn from the quiet lessons they offer us all.
These days, it’s easy to rush past the wild, wondrous things happening right in our very own backyards.
This is your invitation to slow down…
To turn your attention to something happening in Carl Safina’s backyard, where Alfie the Eastern Screech Owl is raising 6 little owlets with her mate, Jack.
Watch Alfie and Jack’s Owlets Hatch, Grow, and Take Flight
Every week, we’re sharing real moments from Alfie’s nest: feeding rituals, nighttime check-ins, milestones in growth, and the quiet ways she and her mate, Jack, teach their young what it means to be wild.
"My kids think it’s so cool that we read Owls in Our Yard and can now check in on Alfie’s new nest daily!”
"I was hooked on following the eagles at Big Bear Valley… and now I’m hooked on Alfie.”
"I loved Alfie & Me—and watching this next chapter of her motherhood unfold is deeply moving."
What can one small owl teach us about care, belonging, and being fully alive?
When Carl Safina found Alfie—an orphaned Eastern Screech Owl—he didn’t set out to form a bond. But through months of close care, careful distance, and deep observation, something extraordinary happened: trust. Not ownership. Not control. Just presence, and the slow-building awareness that the lines between species, self, and other are more porous than we think.
Alfie & Me is a book about ethics, intimacy, and the unexpected clarity that can come from paying attention—really paying attention—to a life not your own.
📘 Alfie & Me is available now wherever books are sold.
For Educators, Caregivers, Parents
A Real Owl Family. A Living Lesson. A Daily Update That Sparks Conversation.
Now, through social media updates, free printable resources, and real-time glimpses inside the nest, families and classrooms are turning Alfie’s story into a living lesson.
Here’s how you can use Alfie’s story:
📘 Read the book to spark wonder and tell Alfie’s story.
📲 Follow the nest updates to model curiosity and emotional intelligence.
🖍️ Download our free Owl Learning Kit, with a fun infographic, a tracker, and a mini curriculum designed for grades 3–5.
This is science, ethics, and storytelling all in one soft-feathered package.
“We check social media every morning and talk about what Alfie’s teaching her babies—and what it means to care for someone. 💬”
Resources for the Kiddos
Meet the Owlets: Mini Guide
Discover the stages of baby owl development—from hatchling to fledgling—in one beautiful, easy-to-use sheet. Perfect for sparking curiosity, guiding observation, or printing for kids to explore at home or in class.
Owls In Our Yard: Educational Guide
Bring Alfie’s real-life story into your classroom, homeschool, or living room with this ready-to-use educational guide for grades 3 - 5. Includes science, writing, SEL, and nature-based activities, as well as discussion prompts. Designed to nurture wonder, empathy, and thoughtful connection to the natural world.
This Isn’t a Story.
It’s Real Life, Right in Carl Safina’s Yard
Carl Safina is a MacArthur Fellow, biologist, and author of Alfie & Me—the true story of how a wild owl reshaped his understanding of family, devotion, and what it means to belong.
What began as a chance encounter became a years-long bond. And now, Carl and his family are privy to witnessing Alfie raising her next generation.