Barn Owls Captivate Manhattan With Rare Nesting Sighting

A rare family of barn owls has become the latest celebrities on Manhattan's Upper West Side, nesting in a water tower near Central Park. This marks the first documented instance of barn owls nesting in Manhattan in modern history, according to migration ecologist Andrew Farnsworth of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

The elusive birds have attracted nightly gatherings of people eager for a glimpse. Elisabeth Williams, an Upper West Side resident, first notified a local news outlet on Oct. 6 after she and her husband observed multiple owls at the water tower. The couple had previously spotted a single owl on an apartment windowsill.

"In a place like Manhattan, you normally really have to go out of your way to encounter nature," Williams said. "And here it was, just sort of right outside our window."

Barn owl sightings are uncommon in New York City, as the species is at the northern edge of its range and its population has seen a significant decline. "There’s lots of excitement among New Yorkers, both birders and non-birders alike, about these owls because owls really capture the attention," said Jessica Wilson, executive director of NYC Bird Alliance. "They’re magical, they’re nocturnal, they are secretive, they’re not commonly seen, especially on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. And to have this chance to see these birds is really thrilling."

David Barrett, a Manhattan-based birder who manages the social media account Manhattan Bird Alert, has observed at least one adult barn owl and five fledglings at the water tower. He has also seen an adult owl carrying rodents to the nest. While there are believed to be two adult owls, some photographers have claimed to have seen as many as six fledglings.

Before the sightings, residents reported hearing unusual screeching noises originating from the water tower area starting in early September. Thomas Obersteiner described the sounds as resembling someone "being murdered outside." He and his wife mistook the noises for a child in distress on multiple occasions before realizing they were from the owls.

Farnsworth confirmed that the screech is a typical vocalization for barn owls used for communication. Obersteiner's building offers a prime vantage point, and he has been allowing nature photographers access to his roof deck to observe the owls nearly every night since news of their presence spread. "We can’t say no because it’s so much fun and these people are so serious," Obersteiner said. "It's beautiful."

The unexpected presence of the barn owls has even inspired new bird watchers, including the Williamses, who admit they may soon become avid birders.