By Islam El-Sakka
The roof of a water tower atop a building on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, home to a rare family of barn owls, has been removed, sparking outrage and a state investigation. The nest, believed to be the first documented instance of barn owls nesting in Manhattan in modern history, was exposed when the tower’s roof was taken off Thursday.
First Documented Nest in Modern History
The barn owl family was discovered weeks ago, drawing crowds of birders and photographers. Jessica Wilson, executive director of the NYC Bird Alliance, said she saw one fledgling on a nearby roof Thursday after the removal. Barn owls are nocturnal, and fledglings should not be out during the day, indicating the bird had been disturbed from the nest.
Authorities Investigate Potential Violations
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said its officers found the water tower roof removed, exposing the nest. The building owner was ordered to halt demolition until further notice while the department investigates potential violations. The building’s superintendent declined to comment, and it remains unclear who owns the building or ordered the roof’s removal.
Outrage from Officials and Birders
State Sen. Erik Bottcher called the destruction of the nest “outrageous,” noting that active migratory bird nests are protected by state and federal law. David Barrett, a Manhattan birder who runs the Manhattan Bird Alert social media account, said the well-known nest should never have been disturbed.
Concerns for Fledgling Survival
Wilson warned that barn owl fledglings depend on their parents for food because they cannot yet hunt. Without the nest, she said, the fledglings might not survive. Barn owls are at the northern fringe of their range in New York, and their population has declined at an alarming rate, according to the state DEC.
History of NYC Bird Celebrities
New Yorkers have previously rallied around birds such as Flaco the Eurasian eagle-owl, who died in 2024, and Pale Male, a red-tailed hawk that nested above Fifth Avenue for three decades before dying in 2023. American woodcocks also draw attention during their spring migration stopovers in Bryant Park.
