By Gus Saltonstall
Little did we know at the time, but February 2, 2023, would go down in owl history.
On that day, an unknown person freed Flaco the Eurasian eagle-owl from his mesh enclosure within the Central Park Zoo. Following a brief period of attempted recapture, the powers that be within the park decided to give up the chase and let Flaco live life as a free bird.
Friday is the one-year anniversary of Flaco’s release, and while there were initial worries that the 13-year-old bird who had spent his entire life in captivity would struggle in his new conditions, he has proved the doubters wrong.
On the eve of his one-year anniversary of freedom, Flaco spent the morning Thursday perched on a fire escape outside of a building at West 85th Street.
“Flaco the owl is sitting on my fire escape — he looks fine — he is magnificent,” MJ Ansbro said as she recorded Flaco outside her window. “He seems healthy and calm, and he’s gorgeous.”
Flaco the Owl on a fire escape on West 85th Street on Thursday morning.
“He’s magnificent”@BirdCentralPark
Video Credit: MJ Ansbro pic.twitter.com/VFlCggB7xJ
— Gus Saltonstall (@GusSaltonstall) February 1, 2024
Flaco spent the majority of the past year in Central Park, perching, roosting, and hunting to his heart’s delight. But, suddenly in November, he vanished.
After a week of anxiety over Flaco’s safety, he was spotted multiple times in the East Village and Lower East Side. There was one theory that the influx of people for the New York City Marathon might have chased Flaco off, but a more widely shared opinion is that he journeyed downtown to find loving during mating season.
Either way, he returned to the Upper West Side shortly thereafter, where he continues to be spotted flying around, perching on local fire escapes, and hunting in Central Park.
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Wow, he’s beautiful and so regal!
We have been hearing what sounds like an owl at night in the courtyard of our building, at NW corner WEA / W 88th st. We have a FB group for our building, a number of people have posted about hearing the owl
It’s probably Flaco! He’s been photographed/videoed hooting on the UWS a lot in the last month or so—he seems to like perching on top of high buildings and water towers so his voice carries.
Flacco has visited me twice today…..landing on my air-conditioner. I”m on 83rd St. I got up close and viewed the beauty….until he realized and flew away before I could snap a picture of him. Hope he comes again.
Hi Carol! Any chance we can be in touch? We have a film crew running around trying to locate him today for an anniversary filming day. If you could share more details we can send someone out to look for him 🙂 🙂 🙂 My email is lennypane-at-gmail-dot-com 🙂 🙂 🙂
I’m so jealous! I live on 83rd and Columbus, I run at the reservoir almost every day around sunset, but I’ve still never seen him in person! Agh!
Flacco has also been visiting our building on West End and 89th Street. He is a very vocal owl hooting through the night and early morning this past weekend.
The other night, maybe on 1/30 or 1/31, I’m on WEA between 90/91 and I heard an owl in the back of the buildings, it was a distinct owl sound. It must have been him!!
He certainly perfected the New-Yorker-On-The-Subway stare-into-air-like-nothing’s-there look! 🙂
Fab bird! I’ve seen him in the park a few times, minding his own business. One time perched on a branch with a long ratty tail (pun and all) dangling outta his talon. Lunch in the park.
I was very worried about him, but he’s a tough one, all right! Envious of you all who are getting visits.
Little wonder he likes our neighborhood — so many rats, unfortunately. I just worry about his ingesting rat poison or a rat that’s eaten poison. Would love to see the little guy — what a mascot for the city!
He’s successful, single, living the life in the city – Hey, let’s set this lonely guy up with a lady owl!!
Is he a barn owl? If so, I heard him on my roof last spring. Crazy thing to hear in Manhattan!