By Gus Saltonstall
A rare American Barn owl has been spotted multiple times over the past month in the backyards of buildings between West 75th and 76th streets, from Columbus to Central Park West, Elisabeth Beall Williams wrote in an email to West Side Rag on Saturday.
“We first heard the owl paying our neighborhood a visit on the night of September 6, and we’ve heard it periodically in the evenings since then,” Williams wrote. “Today, for the first time, we were able to spot it and take a very poor-quality photo. Its screeching is quite loud and we were able to first identify the bird using the Merlin bird ID app.
Manhattan Bird Alert, the popular bird sighting X account, confirmed to West Side Rag that the photo was of a Barn owl.
“It seems unusual for a Barn owl to be in Manhattan – but I am no expert!” Williams added, who said she took the photo from the back patio of a building on the corner of West 76th Street and Central Park West.
She is correct about it being uncommon.
Here’s how the New York City Parks Department describes a Barn owl sighting in the five boroughs.
“Barn owls are extremely rare sights in most New York City parks, but there have been sightings over the years in Pelham Bay, the New York Botanical Garden, and Floyd Bennett Field. Their calls sound like a harsh, raspy scream,” reads a section on the Parks website about owls.
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The first owl I found by myself some 20years ago was a Barn Owl in Central Park. I haven’t seen or heard of one in the park since. Nor do I expect to.
We had one recently at the “Nursery” near the Compost area E. 103rd St. inside the park. A beauty.
Not surprising when rats are a main part of their diet. Makes the current UWS perfect.
not if the rat is poisoned! remember barri and flaco?
More positive and uplifting comments….
There are actually two nearby. One comes to the backyards of 75/76th between Cols and CPW a few times a week now (last night the latest) and she’ll sit and call to another one who responds – sounds like in the park. She’ll stay about 45 minutes or an hour and then fly off. Last night she was circling overhead (majestic white wings) and perched on the water tower before heading off. Took me a while to identify the screech – thought it was our cat getting into trouble with the neighborhood raccoon 😉 so cool to have them around.
Had a close encounter with one of the pair last night. She landed on a low branch and started ‘yelling’ at my cat and then me – for about 20 mins. The second of the pair came near and they both circled around the CPW and of the 76th block for a while. I have pics but can’t post here.
Hope he helps himself to a rat… or two. Bring your friends, Mr Owl!
Not trying to be noodge, but the problem with owls (or other predator birds or wildlife) feeding on rats is that many of the rats contain poison, which in turn poisons the birds (see: Flaco, the owl). Although rat poison is discouraged, it is still used all over the place, and until they come up with rat reduction/prevention measures that actually work, folks will continue to use poison because it’s the cheapest and easiest solution.
That’s what became of beautiful, sociable Barney the snowy owl in recent years; she used to perch on the wire fences by the path by the ballfields. There ARE better ways to eliminate rats; that requires the will of the City and the Conservancy to implement them. I acknowledge that getting all the rats nontoxically before they breed is very, very difficult. We should try, though!
Yes, my first thought. I hope the owl remains healthy. Dining on NYC rats can kill her/him.
I live in the exact area on the 15th floor of my building and I have heard low screeching lately. I was looking around, even at my water tower, but couldn’t identify the “culprit.” Hmmmm!
who?
That’s him. He flew right by me in April RSD and 91st street.
how lovely!!!!
Aint that a hoot!
Sounds like he pulled a… whodini 😏
And that’s the game folks. Jon M for the win!
We had a couple of owl sightings in Riverside Park a few years ago. One, over the 105th St. Dog Run; he emerged from a large tree, soared low over the run (didn’t try to grab any dogs) and landed in another large tree south of the Run. The next was an owl I saw in Jan., 2021, in an large tree over the benches near 103rd St. in the Firemen’s Memorial Island. I took several pictures, but he was in command of the place, and he knew it. He was not a barn owl like this one; I have a picture, but don’t know how to share it here. I’m glad we have some nature in the City.
Yes, so glad!
I was on a boat around the south end of Randall’s Island last Friday, and we saw a bald eagle sitting on a buoy. Talk about exciting! I think everyone on the boat (all people working on environment and water quality issues in NYC, so probably lots of birders – but EVERYONE’s excited about bald eagles!) rushed to the port side of the boat to look. It’s a mercy we didn’t flip the ferry!
I also hear the owl on my UWS 76th St in the evening. It’s a loud raspy sound that is quite odd in our environs. I also used the Merlin app to identify it.
You thought it wasn’t a good photo, but looks to me like your shot even includes a cat watching through the window!
Sweet!!!!! Woo hoo!!!
Read Wesley the Owl. Great barn owl story.
My son spotted the owl flying over in Central Park last week, near UWS 70s-80s. He was surprised by the local sighting since we usually only see/hear Barn Owls outside of the city, mostly VT. We have occasionally seen other owls in CP and it’s always a thrill. What a special bird. Glad others are witnessing this rare event. Thank you for the photo… may he/she stay safe.
I love that!
Just in time for Halloween!