Politicians, police and wildlife officers flocked to an Upper West Side apartment building Friday in an urgent effort to stop work on a rooftop water tower where a beloved family of seven barn owls had nested.
The two owl parents and five fledglings have turned heads since the family was first spotted on West 75th Street in early October. But on Thursday, some owl admirers noticed workers had disturbed the nest while removing the roof of the water tower for repairs. Video from onlookers showed a worker apparently using a torch, which sent smoke up into the nest.
Bird lovers were alarmed, contacted the authorities and believed the owls would get a reprieve from further disturbance. The owls are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
But on Friday, the owl lovers — including state Sen. Erik Bottcher and Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal — were stunned to see a worker back up on the water tower.
“The first time in probably a century we have nesting barn owls,” said Rita McMahon, the director of the Wild Bird Fund. “How could you do that to them?”
Birders said the fledglings had returned to the rooftop last night and were being fed by their parents, though they were no longer hunkering down in their nest, which was mostly destroyed. They desperately tried to prevent any further disturbance to the owls’ abode.
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