Barn Owls Nest on Manhattan Water Tower: First Documented Urban Family

A pair of American barn owls (Tyto alba) has established a nest in a rooftop water tower on West 75th Street, Upper West Side. Observers report two adults and a brood of five to six fledglings. The discovery, first reported on October 6, marks the first known barn-owl nesting site in Manhattan in modern history.

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Barn owls are rare in New York City and sit at the northern edge of their range. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) lists the species as a “Species of Greatest Conservation Need” and notes a 78 percent decline in occupied breeding survey blocks statewide since the 1980s. Prior urban nesting has occurred on Staten Island and Jamaica Bay, but no Manhattan nest had been documented before.

A Family of Barn Owls Is Raising Young in a Manhattan Water Tower, Likely the First Known Nest on the Island in Modern Times

• Adults observed: 2 (multiple birders).

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• Fledglings: 5–6, counts differ among observers.

Barn Owls Take Manhattan

• Range: Northern fringe of the barn owl’s North American distribution.

Barn Owls Take Manhattan

• Statewide breeding-site decline: 78 percent since the 1980s (DEC).

A Family of Barn Owls Is Raising Young in a Manhattan Water Tower, Likely the First Known Nest on the Island in Modern Times

Residents first heard a “loud, raspy screech” in mid-September. Elisabeth Williams and her husband Sam captured a photo that confirmed a barn owl, which they named “Scotty.” Thomas Obersteiner described the nightly sounds as “being murdered outside” and later hosted up to 20 onlookers on his roof deck. Val Coleman, a retired city resident, voiced excitement but warned about the risk of the owls ingesting poisoned rats.

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• The federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects barn owls and their nests; disturbing the site is illegal.

A Family of Barn Owls Is Raising Young in a Manhattan Water Tower, Likely the First Known Nest on the Island in Modern Times

• DEC notes that barn owls need cavity sites near abundant prey, making the water-tower location ideal.

Gorgeous family of rare barn owls become NYC tourist sensation after building their nest atop Upper West Side water tower

• Jessica Wilson, executive director of NYC Bird Alliance, warned that “rats in New York City are often poisoned by rodenticide, meant to kill the rats,” raising the risk of secondary poisoning.

A Family of Barn Owls Is Raising Young in a Manhattan Water Tower, Likely the First Known Nest on the Island in Modern Times

• The city’s “Flaco’s Law” pilot program, enacted after the 2024 death of an escaped Eurasian eagle-owl, tests rat contraception as an alternative to poison.

A Family of Barn Owls Is Raising Young in a Manhattan Water Tower, Likely the First Known Nest on the Island in Modern Times

The nest offers a rare glimpse of a top-level predator thriving in a dense urban environment, highlighting both wildlife adaptability and the challenges posed by urban pest-control practices. Public interest has surged, with nightly gatherings of birders and casual observers.

A Family of Barn Owls Is Raising Young in a Manhattan Water Tower, Likely the First Known Nest on the Island in Modern Times

Local birding groups will continue to monitor the water-tower site throughout the fledglings’ development. Authorities advise the public to observe from sidewalks with binoculars, avoid bright lights or flash photography, and refrain from approaching the tower. The fate of the adult owls and the likelihood of a repeat nesting season will be assessed after the young birds disperse.

A Family of Barn Owls Is Raising Young in a Manhattan Water Tower, Likely the First Known Nest on the Island in Modern Times