By Gus Saltonstall
In the days following the tragic news on Friday night that Flaco the Eurasian eagle-owl died after crashing into a building on West 89th Street, a memorial has begun to grow in Central Park.
Over the weekend, countless New Yorkers visited a large tree in Central Park around East 102nd Street near the North Woods, where Flaco was known to visit in the early months following his escape from the zoo in February 2023.
People of all ages paid their respect to the fallen owl, bringing flowers, drawings, and handwritten cards.
“You moved us all, we loved you so much,” one of the many cards left at the bottom of the tree read. “We are so glad you had a year of freedom.”
A Bronx Zoo pathologists performed a necropsy over the weekend on Flaco, which confirmed that the bird died from an “acute traumatic injury.” He sustained hemorrhages under the sternum and in the back around the liver, but there was no evidence of significant head trauma or bone fractures.
The report added Flaco appeared to be in “good body condition at the time of his death,” but that next steps would be to identify any “underlying factor” that might have negatively affected his health or contributed to his death.
The results from these further tests, which would include any levels of rat poison in his blood or possible viruses, will take multiple weeks to obtain.
As reported by The New York Times, Flaco will be one of a billion birds that will die in the United States this year after striking a building. Building strikes are a leading cause of death for birds, especially during migration seasons, and cities have begun taking actions to try to mitigate these fatalities. You can read about the topic — HERE.
Janet Wikler, a West Side Rag reader, penned an “Ode to Flaco.”
Ode to Flaco
By Janet Wikler
February 24, 2024
At Central Park, inside the zoo, in Feb of ’23,
A silent someone slashed your cage and swiftly set you free.
It happened in the dead of night; and no one saw or heard,
When, liberated, you took flight, a lone majestic bird.
How wonderful it must have been to rise above the trees,
To spread your six-foot wings at last and soar upon the breeze.
And as the city slept you rose and flew into the Park
Where soon you found a comfy tree to roost on in the dark.
What joy it must have been to leave your tiny little space!
Yet freedom held some challenges that you would have to face.
You’d never hunted on your own; the experts thought you’d fail.
The zoo folks tried to capture you and take you back to jail.
So, you set out to learn to hunt and catch your prey alive,
And before long you had the skills you needed to survive.
With beauty, strength, and courage, and a passion to live free,
You soon became a symbol of our love for liberty.
Oh Flaco, how you stole our hearts and won our admiration!
For us New Yorkers you were neighbor, friend, and inspiration.
Your reputation grew and spread until your tale was known
Throughout the world; yet we rejoiced that Flaco was our own.
For one full year and more you brought us hope, and love, and joy;
Yet tragedy awaited you, our dear, beloved boy.
You crashed into a building, and we don’t yet know the reason;
But we have lost a treasured friend this cold and bitter season.
Your spirit lives on, Flaco, in our minds, our hearts, our love.
You’ll always be a part of us as your soul soars above.
We’ll miss you, Flaco, all our lives; and though we shed a tear,
We’re grateful that you graced us with your presence for a year.
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Buildings should be outlawed after we get rid of cars.. Only Bikes and Tents should be allowed in Manhattan!
Do you think this is the kind of remark, at this particular moment, that will persuade people? Or do you just enjoy reveling in bird death, as part of the dominion God gave you over the earth?
I’m a sharp-tongued person, but I see children’s drawings up there.
There are easy and inexpensive ways to mitigate bird crashes into buildings. Doesn’t require irreverence.
This is a beautiful poem. So beautiful that it brought tears to my eyes!!!!
Thank you for a beautiful tribute to a magnificent Manhattan resident.
What a lovely poem! I am deeply moved. Thank you Janet! And thank you, Flaco!
Am amazing poem for an amazing Eagle who stole our hearts in a brief moment in time. New York City will always be grateful for the moment in time Falco had graced us with his presence.
What a BEAUTIFUL Poem and tribute to Flaco. He sure rose above the challenges (pun intended) and *I hope* lived an amazing life his year of freedom. I admire your bravery and tenacity, Flaco. May you long reign over Central Park owls in your after-life, guiding them with such courage.
Central Park Zoo didn’t try hard enough to capture Flaco, after the first few days, even knowing he would not survive . Was it because of public pressure to let the bird have his freedom? Remember Pedals, the N.J. bear who walked like a person on his hind legs. People wanted to protect him in a sanctuary, but he was allowed to stay free. After all the publicity, soon hunted and killed.
Yes, correct. Keep those animals in cages so that they don’t get killed by HUMAN-MADE threats like buildings, excessively bright lights, poison (rat and other), cars, etc. Or, get rid of them all together. What would YOU rather? Pedals was not put in a sanctuary because folks who wanted to couldn’t catch him. The fact he was killed by a hunter shows the bad character of hunters, NOT that of the folks who wanted him to stay free.
No one could “know” that Flaco would or wouldn’t survive after gaining his freedom. It’s true that flying into buildings is a risk for every bird in NYC, and sadly some number of them die from that every year. Should we be relegating animals to a life in confinement as a result? There are architectural solutions to improve bird safety, and the answer is to insist on their adoption.
The building on West 89th Street that killed Flaco should be taken down and demolished immediately because nothing but bad karma will come of it and whoever released poor little Falco to the wild should be arrested immediately and charge for first-degree murder as an adult! An all points bulletin should be issued.
Wow, truly special.
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You may have found your calling.
Janet Wikler, such a beautiful heartfelt tribute to Flaco. Thank you.
I’m surprised there is little mention made that if Flaco had not been released by an act of vandalism, he would be alive, albeit in a zoo today, with an expected life span of another 20 years. RIP Flaco!
Dearest magnificent Flaco,
Thank you for bringing Joy to all of us especially thorough the tough time, you teaching us courage & freedom.
I am glad some brave person set you free and you took a chance & found your freedom to finally spread your wings fly high exploring the Mother Nature.
I am truly sorry that your life has ended tragic but I am glad you finally found freedom even though only a year.
Rest in peace and fly high above ….
Send my love to my beautiful Princess the living legend .
Until we meet again my beautiful fierce Flaco 💔🙏🏼
People are really worked up over this bird, huh.
Is there a way to recruit more owls to nyc in a humane way , and could their presence alleviate the rat problem without the worst rodenticide? Other measures would need to be undertaken (buildings and windows, lights) and also re disturbing a balance of owls, hawks, squirrels, chipmunks, and other creatures.
I recall seeing Flaco the Owl for the first time, trapped in his tiny enclosure at the Central Park Zoo, and then I marveled at seeing him living boldly and freely, over three (3) dozen times during my walks in Central Park. Gazing at his majestic flight, and being captivated by his resounding hoots were true gifts, which I will always cherish and remember. Through his splendid (yet tragic) year outside of captivity, Flaco, the Eurasian Eagle-Owl broadened our horizons and lifted our spirits, and thus, arguably, he also singlehandedly embodied part of the mission of the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) by helping us to discover, interpret, and disseminate knowledge about our captivating natural world! Therefore, wouldn’t it be a fitting tribute if Flaco’s remains could be professionally embalmed by a taxidermist, and respectfully displayed at the AMNH? This way, those who were lucky enough to see him in the “Wilds of New York City” could visit him again, and those who did not, could have the special opportunity to behold and appreciate his impressive beauty.