A rare family of barn owls moved into Manhattan's Upper West Side, captivating New Yorkers

Manhattan's Upper West Side has become the unlikely home to a rare family of barn owls, captivating onlookers with their nocturnal presence. This marks the first documented nesting of barn owls in Manhattan in modern times, according to experts. The family was discovered by Elisabeth Williams and her husband, who noticed multiple owls at a water tower near Central Park in late October.

The owls have drawn nightly crowds of people in the streets, drawn by the elusive nature of the birds. Experts note that New York is at the northern edge of the barn owl's range, and their population has been declining rapidly. The barn owl's haunting calls have been a source of intrigue and concern for residents, with some mistaking the sounds for distress calls.

The family's presence has sparked a newfound interest in bird-watching among both birders and non-birders in the area.