Water tower roof vanishes, leaving Manhattan's first barn owl nest exposed

The roof of a water tower on the Upper West Side disappeared on Thursday, exposing the active nest of a barn owl family. This structure was believed to be the first documented barn owl nest in Manhattan in modern history. The removal has left the birds without shelter and triggered a state investigation into potential violations of wildlife protection laws.

Residents first noticed activity at the top of the tower around noon on Thursday. Thomas Obersteiner, a local resident, witnessed a man with an extension cord climbing down from the structure. By that afternoon, Jessica Wilson, executive director of NYC Bird Alliance, observed one young owl on the roof of a nearby building. She noted that barn owls are nocturnal and rarely visible in daylight. Wilson stated that the bird had been disturbed from the nest and that no other fledglings were seen.

NYC Bird Alliance received reports of work at the tower's summit on Thursday morning. Wilson arrived at the site to find no workers present. Enforcement police from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation accessed the roof with the building superintendent's permission. They confirmed that the top section of the water tower was gone. The state agency told the building owner to halt demolition until further notice while it investigates the incident.

State Sen. Erik Bottcher voiced strong criticism on social media, describing the event as outrage-inducing. He argued that the work potentially endangered a pair of owls and their fledglings. Bottcher cited state and federal laws that protect active migratory bird nests. David Barrett, a birder who operates the Manhattan Bird Alert account, said the nest was widely known. He observed the water tower on Thursday and confirmed the roof was missing, stating the removal should never have happened.

The building's superintendent declined to comment when reached by phone. It is not yet clear who owns the building or ordered the removal of the tower's roof. The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation notes that barn owl sightings in city parks are very rare. The state Department of Environmental Conservation reports that the barn owl population has declined at an alarming rate.

Barn owl fledglings depend on their parents to hunt for food because they do not know how to hunt yet. The parents bring food to the nest. Wilson said that without the nest, she is worried the fledglings might not survive.