Science · Urban wildlifeManhattan barn owls: Nesting tower loses its roof, birds' fate unknownAired October 29, 2026 at 8:29 PM UTCWritten October 29, 2026 at 8:33 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:07Workers removed the roof of a water tower where barn owls nested.0:10The family had drawn neighbors and bird watchers to an exceptionally rare nesting in0:14the city.0:14NYC Bird Alliance says the construction likely disturbed the adults and their young.0:18What happened to the birds and their nesting space when that roof came off?0:21The tower's roof beams were exposed, with a worker carrying a broom climbing across0:25them.0:26The owls had nested in a hole in the tower near West70,6th Street and Central Park0:30West on Manhattan's Upper West Side.0:32The roof was already absent in Thursday's images, dated October29,2026 .0:38Jessica Wilson of NYC Bird Alliance described construction that day.0:41She said the tower had housed the nesting family the night before.0:44The precise time the roof came off is still unclear.0:47Wilson estimated that an adult pair and five or six fledglings were highly likely to0:51have been disturbed.0:52That assessment puts a family of young birds at the center of the concern.0:56Their condition after construction hasn't been confirmed.0:58Two adults and up to six adolescents had recently been seen at the tower before the1:02construction became public.1:04Those observations and Wilson's estimate describe a changing view of the family.1:07They don't give a precise census from which to count missing birds.1:10Earlier in October, some young owls appeared able to make short flights around the1:14tank, while parents occasionally delivered food.1:17Being able to fly a short distance doesn't tell us whether a young owl still needed1:20the nesting site to survive.1:22Earlier photographs captured as many as five apparent young siblings, alongside1:26observations of two visiting parents.1:28By the later observations, the number of adolescents seen reached as many as six.1:33Those are sightings at different moments, rather than a continuous count of every1:36bird.1:37The New York City Parks Department says barn owls are extremely rare in the city.1:41Experts believe this family represented Manhattan's first known nesting.1:44That made the water tower a place where neighbors and bird enthusiasts gathered to1:48watch the young grow.1:49Neighbors expressed concern once the construction became visible.1:52The roof had sheltered the space the owls used, so its removal changed a site people1:56had been watching closely.1:57Wilson said NYC Bird Alliance contacted authorities about the work.2:01Wilson warned that destroying a nest constitutes a wildlife crime.2:05She also said active migratory.2:06Bird nests have federal and state protection, and asserted that the building had to2:11pause work near the nest.2:12No agency has announced a violation here.2:14The legal issue turns on what the construction did to the nesting space and whether2:19birds still depended on it.2:20Removing the tower's roof tells us that part of the structure changed.2:23It doesn't tell us whether the nest itself was destroyed.2:25Federal wildlife guidance prohibits destroying nests containing eggs, chicks or2:29young still dependent on them unless properly authorized.2:33It allows destruction of inactive nests without a permit.2:36Applying those rules here requires knowing the nest's condition and occupancy during2:39the work.2:40The guidance also recommends scheduling activities outside nesting season to avoid2:44destroying or relocating active nests.2:46It doesn't prescribe a blanket pause for every construction activity at this2:49property.2:50Any decision about this tower would need the facts of this particular nest and work.2:54The building had been asked for information, but hadn't provided a substantive2:58explanation.2:59A confirmed work timeline and details of any wildlife precautions would help clarify3:03what happened.3:04A fresh observation or inspection could establish how the birds and nesting space3:08fared.3:09The roof is gone.3:09Whether the work injured or displaced any owl or destroyed the nest remains unknown.3:14The immediate concern is finding the family and determining whether the young still3:18have the nesting space they need.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSS
