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Manhattan’s First Documented Barn-Owl Colony Found in Water Tower

By Drooid · Oct 17, 2026, 2:41 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Andrew Farnsworth of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology says the water-tower nest is Manhattan’s first documented barn-owl colony.
Elisabeth Williams reported the owls on West 75th Street to a news outlet on Oct. 6.
Observers count two adult owls and at least five fledglings.
Jessica Wilson of NYC Bird Alliance says New Yorkers are excited because the owls are rare and secretive.

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Story summary

Andrew Farnsworth of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology says the water-tower nest is Manhattan’s first documented barn-owl colony.
Elisabeth Williams reported the owls on West 75th Street to a news outlet on Oct. 6.
Observers count two adult owls and at least five fledglings.
Jessica Wilson of NYC Bird Alliance says New Yorkers are excited because the owls are rare and secretive.