Rare Barn Owls Build Nest Atop Manhattan Water Tower, Captivating New Yorkers

A family of rare barn owls has become an unexpected celebrity attraction on Manhattan's Upper West Side, having built a nest atop a water tower near Central Park. This occurrence is the first documented instance of barn owls nesting in Manhattan in recorded history, according to experts, and has drawn nightly crowds of onlookers eager to catch a glimpse of the elusive birds.

The owls, known for their distinctive hooting and screeching, have captured the attention of both bird enthusiasts and casual observers. "It was, like, totally shocking," Andrew Farnsworth, a migration ecologist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, told The Associated Press. "To the best of our knowledge, like the collective birding knowledge, there hasn’t been a nest in, you know, in Manhattan, at least in recorded history."

The presence of the barn owls was first brought to public attention on October 6 by Elisabeth Williams, a resident of the Upper West Side, who, along with her husband, observed multiple owls at the water tower on West 75th Street. Williams recalled being surprised a few days earlier by the sighting of a single owl on a nearby apartment windowsill.

Barn owl sightings are exceedingly rare in New York City parks, according to the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. The state Department of Environmental Conservation notes that New York lies on the northern fringe of the barn owl's range and that the species' population has been declining. "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."

This is not the first time urban wildlife has captivated New Yorkers. The city has previously noted the appearance of American woodcocks in Midtown Manhattan's Bryant Park during their spring migration. The recent death of Flaco, a Eurasian eagle-owl who escaped a zoo and lived in Manhattan for a year, drew mournful crowds. Additionally, Pale Male, a red-tailed hawk, nested above Fifth Avenue for three decades before passing away in 2023.

David Barrett, a Manhattan-based birder who manages the social media account Manhattan Bird Alert, reported observing at least one adult barn owl and five fledglings at the water tower. He has also seen an adult owl bringing rodents back to the nest. While two adult owls are believed to be present, some photographers claim to have seen up to six fledglings. "Having one barn owl is a rarity, but it’s not national news. Having a family, for the first time ever, breeding in Manhattan in recorded history, that’s special news," Barrett stated.

"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."

Photographers and onlookers have been gathering nightly on the street in hopes of spotting the owls. Val Coleman, a retired New York City resident, expressed her desire to see them hunt at dusk, while also voicing a concern about the owls potentially ingesting poisoned rodents.