# Barn Owls Nest in Manhattan Water Tower, First in Modern History

> A rare family of barn owls has settled in a Manhattan water tower, marking the first documented breeding of the species in the borough in modern history and drawing significant public attention.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-16T23:19:18.020352Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/barn-owls-nest-in-manhattan-water-tower-first-in-modern-history-79537acb

A family of barn owls, consisting of two adults and between five and six owlets, has successfully nested in a water tower on Manhattan's Upper West Side [1][8][11]. This event marks the first documented instance of barn owls breeding in the borough in modern history [1][9][10]. The presence of these owls has captivated New Yorkers and sparked conversations about urban wildlife conservation [1][10][15].

This nesting is significant because barn owls are listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in New York State due to a declining population [1][2][3]. Their arrival highlights both the potential for urban environments to host rare wildlife and the challenges these animals face in densely populated areas, particularly from common pest control methods [5][7].

## A Rare Urban Nesting

Barn owls are considered rare in New York, and their numbers have decreased worldwide [2][4]. Historically, their populations in New York State were concentrated in the southern half, with known breeding in areas like Kennedy Airport, Staten Island, and Long Island, not typically in Manhattan [4]. Experts confirm that this is the first known barn owl nest on the island in modern history [1][8][9]. Andrew Farnsworth, a migration ecologist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, described the discovery as "totally shocking" given the collective birding knowledge [10].

## The Discovery

Upper West Side residents Elisabeth and Sam Williams first heard loud, raspy screeching noises from their apartment patio in early September 2026 [8][12][13]. They used a bird identification app, Merlin, which suggested the sound was from a barn owl, though they were initially skeptical [8][13]. On October 3, 2026, Sam Williams saw a dark shape fly past, and Elisabeth captured a photo confirming it was a barn owl [8][12]. Word of the sighting spread, and by early to mid-October, birders had confirmed the presence of two adult owls and multiple owlets nesting in a hole in the water tower near West 75th Street and Central Park West [8][11][12]. The young owls have since begun taking short test flights at night [7][8]. The owls have become "celebrities," attracting large nightly crowds of onlookers hoping to catch a glimpse of the nocturnal birds [1][8][10][11]. Some residents have even opened their homes to allow nature photographers access to better viewing spots [13].

## Conservation Concerns

The excitement surrounding the owls also brings a warning about conservation [8]. Barn owls naturally hunt rodents, which makes them vulnerable to rodenticides commonly used in New York City [7]. Jessica Wilson of the New York City Bird Alliance stated that "rats in New York City are often poisoned by rodenticide, meant to kill the rats. But actually what it does is kill the predators that feed on those rats" [7]. She added that if barn owls eat several poisoned rats daily, they are likely to die from this "horrible death" [7]. The city has increased its use of rodenticides [6]. Conservation advocates and birders are calling for the adoption of wildlife-safe pest control methods to protect these owls and other birds of prey [5][7].

## What we could not confirm

We could not confirm the exact number of owlets, with reports varying between five and six [8][11].

## Evidence cited
1. A rare family of barn owls moved into Manhattan's Upper West Side, captivating New Yorkers (www.pbs.org) — https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/a-rare-family-of-barn-owls-moved-into-manhattans-upper-west-side-captivating-new-yorkers
2. hawkcreek.org — https://hawkcreek.org/
3. ny.gov — https://ny.gov/
4. barnowlbox.com — https://barnowlbox.com/
5. instagram.com — https://instagram.com/
6. schoolyardhabitats.net — https://schoolyardhabitats.net/
7. cbsnews.com — https://cbsnews.com/
8. natureworldnews.com — https://natureworldnews.com/
9. smithsonianmag.com — https://smithsonianmag.com/
10. kenw.org — https://kenw.org/
11. youtube.com — https://youtube.com/
12. westsiderag.com — https://westsiderag.com/
13. wboc.com — https://wboc.com/
14. interlochenpublicradio.org — https://interlochenpublicradio.org/
15. brooklyneagle.com — https://brooklyneagle.com/