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Audubon New York

@audubon_ny

21 days ago

Two adult Barn Owls successfully nested in the hole of a water tower on NYC's Upper West Side, perhaps the city's first ever family of this kind! While this is incredibly exciting, the owls are highly susceptible because their prey (rats and mice especially) are often poisoned by rodenticides.

Here are a few more tips to keep these incredible owls safe:
📸 Use long lenses/zoom to photograph owls - closer is not better!
🤫 Stay quiet and still; silence helps them hunt, and your presence can stress the bird and prevent them from acting naturally.
🔅 Avoid flash, as it may temporarily limit their ability to hunt for food or avoid obstacles.
📍 Ideally, don't share the owl's location, especially if it could lead to crowds. The photo in this post is not of the NYC owls.

Photo: Pamela Dimeler/Audubon Photography Awards

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Posted On: October 15th 2026, 05:23 pm

Two adult Barn Owls successfully nested in the hole of a water tower on NYC's Upper West Side, perhaps the city's first ever family of this kind! While this is incredibly exciting, the owls are highly susceptible because their prey (rats and mice especially) are often poisoned by rodenticides.

Here are a few more tips to keep these incredible owls safe:
📸 Use long lenses/zoom to photograph owls - closer is not better!
🤫 Stay quiet and still; silence helps them hunt, and your presence can stress the bird and prevent them from acting naturally.
🔅 Avoid flash, as it may temporarily limit their ability to hunt for food or avoid obstacles.
📍 Ideally, don't share the owl's location, especially if it could lead to crowds. The photo in this post is not of the NYC owls.

Photo: Pamela Dimeler/Audubon Photography Awards

Comments (18)

a day ago

new_york_painter

Are those part of the family that got displaced?

3 days ago

michael_wetzel__

84% of dead birds of prey found in NYC tested positive for anticoagulant rat poison

6 days ago

erinbaiano

They are also at the mercy of evil NYC landlords. Destroying an active barn owl nest violates the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and is typically punished as a federal misdemeanor carrying up to six months in federal prison and a fine of up to $15,000 for individuals. Key Details of the Penalties * Misdemeanor Offense: Standard unauthorized destruction or disturbance of a protected active nest, eggs, or dependent young carries up to 6 months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $15,000 per violation for individuals (or up to $50,000 depending on specific statutory subsections). * Felony Offense: If the violation involves knowingly taking or killing migratory birds with the intent to sell, offer to sell, or barter them, it is elevated to a felony carrying up to 2 years in prison and fines up to $250,000 for individuals. * State & Additional Penalties: In New York, state environmental conservation laws (regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation / NYSDEC) also protect raptors and owls, which can result in additional state-level fines, civil damages, or forfeiture of equipment. * Strict Liability for Misdemeanors: Under the MBTA, a basic misdemeanor violation for harming or destroying an active nest does not require proof of criminal intent or knowledge.

6 days ago

neiledwardbad.too

Here’s another tip: don’t destroy their nest. Good god

7 days ago

brla_bedford

💜💜💜💜💜

8 days ago

jerrycarpo_

Allee house barn owls in Smyrna Delaware

11 days ago

carly.costello4

Hi! What is being done to ensure people don’t get too close? I have seen several videos and pictures of the Barn Owls displaying classic defensive behaviors/threat displays towards the people and photographers. Please help!