New York: Barn Owl Nest on Upper West Side Water Tower Destroyed Despite Stop-Work Order, State Probe Launched
New York, New York County, New York — A barn owl nest on a water tower on Manhattan's Upper West Side was destroyed by construction workers this week, and crews returned to the roof on Oct. 30 despite a state stop-work order, sparking a state investigation and outrage among birders, the New York Post reported.
The nest, on a rooftop water tower at West 75th Street and Central Park West, was the first barn owl nest ever recorded in Manhattan outside Central Park. Five fledglings and their parents had become local celebrities since moving in earlier this month. Workers first damaged the nest while dismantling the water tower, prompting Department of Environmental Conservation police to order a halt to investigate possible violations, as destroying an active barn owl nest is illegal under state law.
On Oct. 30, hours after the stop order, workers climbed back onto the roof. State Sen. Erik Bottcher and others banged on the building's entrance demanding a halt, but work continued until the DEC evacuated the crew at 12:30 p.m. and served the owner with a cease-and-desist order. The owls survived the first incident and returned, but experts fear the second disturbance could seriously harm their health. Out of caution, the New York Road Runners canceled a planned drone show over Central Park.
Source: GSM·America
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：纽约县法院（州最高法院大楼）外景。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons（CC BY-SA 4.0），GSM固定图库。 / Photo: New York County Courthouse, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0), GSM fixed library.
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- 2026-10-30New York: Barn Owl Nest on Upper West Side Water Tower Destroyed Despite Stop-Work Order, State Probe LaunchedThis story
