A family of barn owls has been spotted near 76th Street and Central Park West, drawing birders to the Upper West Side after dark.
Birder David Barrett, who runs the Manhattan Bird Alert account, photographed two adults and as many as six young owls. The birds have nested in an opening in a water tower. Nearby residents first noticed loud nighttime screeches, Barrett said.
Barn owls are an extremely rare sight in the city, according to the Parks Department. Experts say this is the first known barn owl nest in Manhattan.
Jessica Wilson of the New York City Bird Alliance warned that the owls can be exposed to rodenticide when they eat poisoned rats. Birders have been gathering at night in hopes of seeing the nocturnal birds.
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