Barn owl family draws crowds to Manhattan's Upper West Side

A family of barn owls nested in a water tower on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, near Central Park.

Experts say this is the first documented barn owl nest in Manhattan in modern history.

The birds were spotted at a building on West 75th Street, and word of them spread after a resident reported the sighting on Oct.

6.

Nightly crowds have gathered to watch the owls at dusk, when they may come out to hunt.

A Manhattan birder has seen at least one adult and five young owls; two adults are believed to be present.

Barn owls are rarely seen in New York City, which lies near the northern edge of their range.

Their population has declined sharply over time, making the family’s appearance notable, though no next steps are reported.