A Family of Barn Owls Has Moved Into New York City's Upper West Side, Perhaps the First to Nest in Manhattan in Modern History
Reported bySmithsonian Smart News ↗·Sourced by Goodlede
As many as eight barn owls—two adults and up to six juveniles—are now nesting in a water tower on Manhattan's Upper West Side, possibly the first breeding family of the species in the modern history of New York City. The owls arrived in September 2026 and have drawn crowds of birders, with experts calling their presence an encouraging indicator that urban environments are becoming more raptor-friendly.
Barn owls in the city face risk from rodenticide-poisoned rats, a threat that could affect their survival.
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