Hundreds of people gathered in Central Park on Sunday to celebrate Skinny Owl, New York City’s favorite feathered friend, who tragically died after crashing into a building on the Upper West Side earlier this month.
“With all of these difficult times happening around the world, this bird really became a symbol of hope and brought many of us together,” Breanne Delgado said.
Flaco became an inspiration and joy to many as he flew around Manhattan after being let out of his zoo enclosure.
A tribute with speeches, songs and poems was held late in the afternoon in Central Park, in what organizers call Skinny’s favorite oak tree. His death was a heartbreaking end for birdwatchers who documented his daily movements.
Fans posted photos and videos of the majestic owl with a nearly six-foot wingspan perched on tree branches, fence posts, fire escapes and water towers, as well as his hours of hooting.
Hundreds of people gathered in Central Park on Sunday to celebrate Skinny Owl, New York City’s favorite feathered friend, who tragically died after crashing into a building on the Upper West Side earlier this month.
Flaco became an inspiration and joy to many while flying around Manhattan after someone let him out of his zoo enclosure.
A tribute with speeches, songs and poems was held late in the afternoon in Central Park, in what organizers call Skinny’s favorite oak tree.
David Lei, an avid bird watcher in the city, said losing Flaco was difficult to put into words. He added that the owl faced the same fate as many other birds in Manhattan: flying into the deceptive windows of tall buildings.
“Flaco was larger than life and is leaving a legacy to match,” Lei said. “I thank him today, as I did every day I was able to see him, for the joy, wonder and awe he inspired in us throughout his journey.”
Attendees at the ceremony advocated for new laws aimed at helping prevent birds from flying into buildings and curbing the use of rat poison that larger birds can ingest while eating their prey. Efforts are also underway to place a statue of Flaco in Central Park.
Flaco was found dead on the Upper West Side on February 23 after apparently crashing into a building.
It was a rare Eurasian eagle owl that previously made its home at the Central Park Zoo, until the bird was reported missing from its exhibit last February.
It was later revealed that vandals had cut through Flaco’s stainless steel mesh cage and set the owl free in the skies over New York City.
Against all odds, Skinny survived alone, despite fears that his luxurious life at the zoo, where workers fed and cared for him, had set him up for failure.
Flaco’s death was a heartbreaking end for birdwatchers who documented his daily movements and the legions of admirers who followed him.
People posted photos and videos of the majestic owl with a wingspan of nearly six feet perched on tree branches, fence posts, fire escapes and water towers, as well as its hours of hooting.
Attendees at the ceremony also advocated for new laws aimed at helping prevent birds from flying into buildings and curbing the use of rat poison that larger birds can ingest while eating their prey.
Tests by zoologists concluded he suffered traumatic impact injuries, but more tests are planned to determine if he may have been ill.
Police are still trying to arrest whoever let him out of his compound.
Reports of screams were heard in the area, according to David Barrett’s Manhattan Bird Alert social media account.
The bird’s body was found a few blocks away, confirming what Flaco fans feared after hearing the news of the anguished screams in his usual stomping ground.
Following Flaco’s disappearance from his Central Park Zoo enclosure last year, a full bird search was launched to return the feathered creature safely to his home.
He was discovered shortly after being reported missing in the city’s emblematic shopping area on Fifth Avenue.
Flaco was then intercepted by the NYPD on a sidewalk on 60th Street, but evaded custody. The next morning he headed to Central Park.
“Our focus and effort at this time is on the safe recovery of the owl,” zoo officials said. “We will issue updates as necessary.”
Efforts are also being made to put a statue of Flaco in Central Park
Flaco was found dead on the Upper West Side on February 23 after apparently crashing into a building.
New Yorkers are celebrating Flaco, the great horned owl who died last week, by leaving cards in his memory under a tree where he often slept.
Despite the efforts, Flaco maintained his status as a free bird and it was even rumored that he had taken a vacation at his home in Central Park in search of a partner.
Experts believe he left the park in November to look for a mate after he was spotted five miles away on East 3rd Street.
He was thought to be the only member of his species in North America, meaning his search could have extended beyond downtown Manhattan.
“It’s the time of year when these owls look to pair up if they’re not bonded,” fans tweeted on Manhattan Bird Alert.
‘Flaco’s cries have gone unanswered for a long time.
“He was last observed in Central Park on the afternoon of October 31, and we believe that is when he left.
“He probably made short, incremental night flights in the course of a hunt that took him more than five miles in six days.
“He doesn’t know that there are no companions anywhere in the region.”
Despite the efforts, Flaco maintained his status as a free bird and it was even rumored that he had taken a vacation from his Central Park apartment in search of a partner.
Experts believe he left the park in November to look for a mate after he was spotted five miles away on East 3rd Street.
He was thought to be the only member of his species in North America, meaning his search could have extended beyond downtown Manhattan.
Flaco was less than a year old when he arrived at the Central Park Zoo in 2010 and took up residence near the Penguins and Sea Birds building.
He had little chance to develop his flying or hunting skills in captivity, but has thrived since his escape and has been seen eating up to four rats at a time, belying his name which means “skinny” in Spanish.
His fans were nervous that he would fall victim to the rodenticide used to poison rats that is believed to have contributed to the death of a barred owl known as Barry, who died in the park in 2021.