Roof Where Barn Owls Were Nesting in NYC Has Vanished

The roof of a water tower where a family of celebrity barn owls had been nesting in Manhattan's Upper West Side has been removed, sparking outrage among New Yorkers who've been captivated by the elusive birds. The barn owl family was discovered weeks ago, drawing crowds of people in the street eager to get a glimpse of the birds, including nature photographers, per the AP. It's believed to be the first documented instance of barn owls nesting in Manhattan in modern history. The NYC Bird Alliance received reports on Thursday from residents and birders about work happening at the top of the tower, per director Jessica Wilson. When Wilson got to the building, no workers were present. Enforcement police with the state Department of Environmental Conservation also came, per Wilson, and they all were able to access the building's roof with the permission of the building's superintendent.

Wilson saw that the top of the water tower where the barn owls had been nesting was gone. The DEC said in a statement that its police officers "investigated the area and found that the roof of the water tower on the building was removed, exposing the barn owl nest." The officers told the building owner to "halt demolition of the water tower until further notice" while the department investigates any potential violations, the agency added. The building's superintendent declined to comment. It's not immediately clear who owns the building or ordered the removal of the water tower's roof. Barn owl fledglings depend on their parents to hunt for them because they don't know how to hunt yet, Wilson said. The fledglings' parents bring them food at their nest. Without the nest, Wilson added, "we're worried that these barn owl fledglings might not survive." More here.