Manhattan Water Tower Roof Removed, Exposing Barn Owl Nest
State officials ordered a halt to demolition work after residents discovered the roof was missing from the structure where the owls had been raising their young.
By Ivan Dvorak ·
The roof of a water tower on the Upper West Side was removed on Thursday, exposing a barn owl nest and sparking immediate concern among local residents and conservation groups. The structure sat atop a building in an area where the owls had recently established a home, making it the first documented instance of common barn owls nesting in Manhattan in modern history.
Jessica Wilson, executive director of NYC Bird Alliance, spotted a barn owl chick on the roof of a nearby building shortly after the removal. Wilson noted that the chick was visible during the day, which is unusual for the nocturnal species. She stated, “Había sido sacado del nido,” and added that no other chicks were seen.
Reports of construction activity on the water tower reached NYC Bird Alliance on the morning of Thursday. When Wilson arrived at the site, workers were not present, but state environmental agents were on hand. With permission from the building manager, the group accessed the roof and confirmed that the upper section of the tower where the owls had been nesting was gone.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued a statement confirming that its agents investigated the site. They found that the removal of the roof had left the nest exposed. The department instructed the building owner to “detenga la demolición de la torre de agua hasta nuevo aviso” while the agency investigates potential violations of wildlife protection laws.
Erik Bottcher, a New York State Senator, expressed anger over the incident in a social media post. He argued that active nests of migratory birds are protected by both state and federal statutes. Bottcher emphasized that urban wildlife deserves protection and that accountability is necessary when these rules are broken.
David Barrett, a birdwatcher who manages the Manhattan Bird Alert account, observed the tower on Thursday and noted the missing roof. He described the nest as incredibly well-known and said its removal should not have happened. The building manager declined to comment when contacted by phone, and the identity of the building owner or the person who ordered the work remains unclear.
Common barn owl sightings in New York City parks are rare, according to the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation. The species population has declined at an alarming rate, as noted by the state conservation department. Wilson explained that the chicks rely entirely on their parents for food because they cannot hunt yet. Without the nest, she said, there is a fear that the young owls may not survive.
