Rare Barn Owls Capture Attention in Manhattan's Upper West Side

A rare family of barn owls has taken up residence in a water tower on Manhattan's Upper West Side, becoming the latest urban wildlife celebrities and attracting nightly gatherings of onlookers eager for a glimpse.

This marks the first documented instance of barn owls nesting in Manhattan in modern history, according to Andrew Farnsworth, a migration ecologist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The elusive birds have captivated both seasoned birdwatchers and casual New Yorkers since news of their presence spread.

Elisabeth Williams, a resident of the Upper West Side, first alerted a local news outlet on October 6th after she and her husband observed multiple owls at the water tower on West 75th Street, near Central Park West. They 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."

The barn owl's presence is particularly notable as New York City is at the northern edge of the species' range, and barn owl populations have been declining significantly. The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation notes that barn owl sightings in city parks are very rare.

David Barrett, a Manhattan-based birder who runs 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 delivering rodents to the site, indicating successful breeding.

Before the sightings, residents reported hearing unusual screeching noises starting in early September. Thomas Obersteiner described the sounds as resembling someone "being murdered outside," and initially mistook them for a child in distress.

Farnsworth explained that the screech is a typical vocalization for barn owls used for communication, likening it to a sound from a "horror movie."

Neighbors have opened their rooftops and viewing spots to nature photographers and enthusiasts hoping to catch a glimpse of the owls, especially at dusk when they are most active. The unexpected presence of the owls has fostered a sense of shared wonder among residents.

Barn owls join other birds that have previously captured the attention of New Yorkers, including American woodcocks that migrate through Bryant Park, the late Eurasian eagle-owl Flaco, and the red-tailed hawk Pale Male, who nested for decades on Fifth Avenue.