Manhattan barn owls go missing after new nesting box installed

A family of barn owls that nested on a Manhattan rooftop for the first time in recorded history has vanished from its location. The birds disappeared from the West 75th Street area after construction crews began removing part of a water tower where they had raised their young.

Experts believe the group consisted of two adult owls and five fledglings. For weeks, the parents returned to the water tower each night to feed the chicks. This rare nesting event drew residents and bird experts to the Upper West Side to observe the birds up close.

Tensions rose when workers started dismantling the tower last week. Under state law, harming owls or destroying their nests is a crime. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation responded by issuing a cease-and-desist order to halt the work.

Manhattan Borough President Brad Lander stated that the state agency allowed workers to resume reconstruction on Monday. He noted the approval came after a new nesting box was installed for the birds. The goal was to ensure residents continued to receive clean drinking water while protecting the owls.

Despite the new structure, the owls have not been seen in the area since construction resumed. Jessica Wilson, executive director of the NYC Bird Alliance, described the species as secretive and difficult to locate. She confirmed this was the first time she knew of barn owls nesting in Manhattan.

The presence of the owls altered local activities. The New York Road Runners canceled a drone show scheduled for Friday before the marathon to protect the family from disturbance. Local resident JF Grossen said the experience provided a rare connection to nature in the city.

The disappearance of the birds leaves the fate of the five fledglings uncertain. While the nesting box remains in place on the water tower, no one has seen the owls use it since the construction noise returned to the rooftop.