NYC DEC orders halt to Upper West Side water tower work after barn owl roof removal

New York City residents have long celebrated local wildlife, from the red-tailed hawk Pale Male to the Eurasian eagle-owl Flaco, but a recent incident on the Upper West Side has drawn sharp criticism regarding the treatment of a rare avian family. The roof of a water tower, which served as the nesting site for Manhattan’s first documented modern barn owl colony, was removed on Thursday, leaving the structure exposed.

Jessica Wilson, executive director of the NYC Bird Alliance, confirmed the damage after arriving at the site to investigate reports from residents. She observed one fledgling perched on a nearby building during the day, a behavior she noted is unusual for nocturnal barn owls. Wilson stated that the young bird had been disturbed from its nest and that no other fledglings were immediately visible. State Department of Environmental Conservation enforcement police also accessed the roof with the superintendent's permission and verified the missing roof.

In a statement, the New York DEC announced that its officers investigated the area and found the water tower's roof had been removed, exposing the barn owl nest. The department ordered the building owner to halt all demolition work on the water tower until further notice while officials probe potential legal violations. The building's superintendent declined to comment by phone, and it remains unclear who owns the property or specifically ordered the roof's removal.

Thomas Obersteiner, a local resident, witnessed a man with an extension cord climbing down from the tower around noon on Thursday. The discovery sparked outrage among birdwatchers and city officials. New York State Senator Erik Bottcher posted that he was outraged by the reports, noting that active migratory bird nests are protected by both state and federal law. He called for accountability, stating that the city's wildlife deserves protection.

David Barrett, a Manhattan birder who operates the social media account Manhattan Bird Alert, observed the tower on Thursday and confirmed the roof was gone. Barrett emphasized the nest's high profile, noting it had been widely written about and should never have been disturbed. According to the state DEC, New York sits at the northern edge of the barn owl's range, and the population has declined at an alarming rate. The NYC Department of Parks & Recreation describes sightings in city parks as very rare.

Wilson explained that barn owl fledglings rely on their parents to bring food to the nest because they have not yet learned to hunt. Without the nest structure, she expressed concern that the young owls might not survive. The DEC continues its investigation into the incident, with no immediate timeline provided for the conclusion of the review.

The water tower sits atop a building in the Upper West Side neighborhood. The removal of the roof occurred during the day, a time when the owls are typically resting. The DEC's order to halt work remains in effect while the department determines if any statutes were broken during the demolition process.