Manhattan Barn Owl Family Displaced After Water Tower Roof Removed

All seven members of a barn owl family living on the Upper West Side have been located after construction crews removed the roof of their water tower nesting site. The family had been roosting in a hole in the tower near Central Park until repairs began Thursday morning. By Monday, bird experts and elected officials confirmed the owls had shifted to nearby roosting spots.

The disruption occurred despite the species being federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This law generally prohibits disturbing active nests of migratory birds. Jessica Wilson, executive director of the NYC Bird Alliance, stated the organization alerted the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) immediately when the roof was torn off. The DEC responded and met with the group on the building's roof to inspect the damage.

Legal measures were taken to halt the work. NYS Senator Erik Bottcher said the DEC issued a cease-and-desist order on Thursday. This action was based on the finding that destroying the birds' shelter likely violated federal and state laws. However, construction crews returned to the site on Friday to continue the repairs, a move Wilson described as shocking given the prior order.

The DEC installed a new nesting box on the tower on Saturday. While Wilson noted the young owls may be too old to use the box, she confirmed that all five fledglings were seen a few blocks away over the weekend. Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal observed that the owls appear to be adjusting to their new circumstances. He noted that feedings are now taking place elsewhere, suggesting the family is functioning as true Manhattanites would.

A crowd of birders had watched only one adult and one fledgling the night the roof was removed. The rest of the family disappeared until the recent sightings. Wilson advised residents to give the birds space by avoiding flash photography and loud noises near them. She also recommended avoiding rodenticides, which pose a separate threat to owl populations.

Hoylman-Sigal said several owls were spotted perching at the tower site late Sunday night. He expressed hope that the DEC will delay further repairs for at least another week to ensure the birds' safety. The immediate physical threat from the active construction has paused, but the family now occupies a different set of roosting spots on the West Side.