Water tower roof removed above active barn owl nest in Manhattan

The roof of a water tower on the Upper West Side was removed on Thursday, exposing the nest of a barn owl family that had recently drawn crowds to the neighborhood. This action triggered an immediate response from state environmental regulators and sparked concern among local residents and bird conservation groups.

The nest, identified as the first documented instance of barn owls breeding in Manhattan in modern history, had become a local attraction in recent weeks. Residents and nature photographers gathered on the street to observe the birds. The structure sits atop a building in the area.

Jessica Wilson, executive director of the NYC Bird Alliance, reported seeing one owl chick on the roof of a nearby building shortly after the water tower roof was taken off. Wilson noted that barn owls are nocturnal creatures and stated that the chicks should not be outside in full daylight. She added that the bird had been pulled from the nest and that no other chicks were visible at that moment.

Residents and bird watchers reported work activity at the top of the tower to the NYC Bird Alliance on the morning of Thursday. Wilson arrived at the site to find that the top section of the tower, where the owls had been nesting, was already gone. No workers were present when she arrived, but agents from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation were also at the scene. The building manager granted them access to the roof.

The state conservation department released a statement confirming that its agents investigated the area and found the water tower roof removed, leaving the barn owl nest exposed. The department told the building owner to stop the demolition of the tower until further notice. The agency is currently investigating possible violations of environmental regulations.

The building manager declined to comment when contacted by phone. It is not yet clear who owns the building or who authorized the removal of the roof. Thomas Obersteiner, a resident of the Upper West Side, said he saw a man with an extension cord descending from the water tower around noon on Thursday.

State Senator Erik Bottcher expressed outrage over the incident in a social media post. He stated that active nests of migratory birds are protected by both state and federal laws. Bottcher argued that urban wildlife deserves protection and that there must be accountability when these protections are violated. He noted that the incident potentially endangered a pair of owls and their several chicks.

David Barrett, a Manhattan-based bird watcher who runs the Manhattan Bird Alert account, observed the water tower on Thursday and confirmed the roof was gone. Barrett described the nest as incredibly well-known and heavily written about. He stated that the removal of the roof should never have happened given the public awareness of the birds' presence.

Barn owls are rare in New York City parks, according to the city's Department of Parks and Recreation. The city sits at the northern limit of the barn owl's range, and the state conservation department says the species' population has declined at an alarming rate over time. Wilson explained that the chicks rely on their parents to bring food to the nest because they do not yet know how to hunt. Without the nest structure, Wilson said the group is concerned the chicks may not survive.