Barn Owls Nest in Manhattan for First Time in Modern History, Drawing Birders to Upper West Side
On New York City's Upper West Side, a family of barn owls, consisting of two adults and as many as six young ones, has made a nest in a water tower, marking the first documented nesting of this species in modern Manhattan history. Elisabeth Williams, a local resident, first spotted them in September and recognized one as Scotty on October 3. The owls have drawn the attention of many birdwatchers, with Jessica Wilson from the NYC Bird Alliance expressing her excitement about the event. Barn owls are uncommon in NYC and are experiencing population declines due to habitat destruction and rodenticides. The passing of Flaco, a Eurasian eagle-owl, in 2024 led to the introduction of 'Flaco's Law' aimed at rat contraception. Resident Lydia Sugarman remarked that the owls offer a pleasant diversion from negative news.
Key facts
- A family of barn owls, including two adults and up to six juveniles, has nested in a water tower on Manhattan's Upper West Side.
- Experts believe this is the first known barn owl nesting in Manhattan in modern history.
- The owls were first heard in September by resident Elisabeth Williams, who identified them using the Merlin bird ID app and photographed one on October 3, naming it Scotty.
- As many as eight barn owls have been spotted at the water tower, drawing crowds of birders at night.
- Barn owls are extremely rare in New York City, and the state is at the northern limit of their range; habitat loss has caused a rapid population decline.
- Experts warn the owls are at risk of poisoning from rodenticides used to kill rats, which can be fatal to predators.
- The 2024 death of Flaco, a Eurasian eagle-owl, was linked to rodenticide ingestion and led to the passage of 'Flaco's Law,' which includes a rat contraception pilot program.
- Wildlife photographer David Lei says the nest is a sign of resilience and should galvanize people to protect wildlife.
Entities
Artists
- Elisabeth Williams
- Jessica Wilson
- David Barrett
- Paul Sweet
- David Lei
- Lydia Sugarman
- Flaco
Institutions
- NYC Bird Alliance
- CBS News New York
- New York Times
- West Side Rag
- Manhattan Bird Alert
- American Museum of Natural History
- Central Park Zoo
- Hell Gate
Locations
- New York City
- United States
- Manhattan
- Upper West Side
- New York