Barn owl nesting in Manhattan water tower

In early October, a family of barn owls established a nest in a water tower on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, near Central Park. This event was described by Andrew Farnsworth of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology as “totally shocking,” as it marks the first documented instance of the species nesting in Manhattan in modern history.

The nesting site attracted significant public interest from photographers and birders. However, the roof of the water tower was subsequently removed, exposing the nest. In response, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation dispatched enforcement officers to the site and ordered the building owner to halt all demolition until an investigation into potential violations is completed.

While state and federal laws prohibit the destruction of active migratory bird nests without a permit, the reason for the roof removal has not been clarified. Jessica Wilson of the NYC Bird Alliance reported seeing a fledgling on a nearby rooftop, noting that the birds should not be exposed during daylight hours.

Recent reports indicate that despite a cease-and-desist order, further work allegedly occurred, resulting in the destruction of the nest. While the adult owls and their five fledglings reportedly survived the incident, the nest itself was destroyed, leaving the birds without their original habitat.