State Conservation Agents Investigate Removal of Manhattan Water Tower Roof

New York state conservation agents have ordered building personnel to stop work on an Upper West Side water tower after its roof was removed Thursday, exposing an active owl nest. The New York Department of Environmental Conservation stated in a message that its agents "investigated the area and found that the roof of the water tower of the building was removed, leaving exposed the common owl nest." Agents instructed the building owner to halt any further demolition of the tower pending a review of possible violations.

Jessica Wilson, executive director of the NYC Bird Alliance, arrived at the building on Thursday after receiving reports from residents that morning about activity near the top of the tower. She said no workers were present when she reached the site, but state conservation agents also arrived, and all parties accessed the rooftop with the property manager's permission. Wilson confirmed the section of the tower where the owls had nested was gone. She said she later spotted a common owl chick on a nearby rooftop and noted that she did not see any other chicks.

Common owl chicks "should not be outside in broad daylight" because the species is nocturnal, Wilson said, adding, "It had been removed from the nest." The organization's concern centers on the chicks' inability to hunt for themselves; Wilson stated that without the nest, "we are concerned that these common owl chicks may not survive."

The nest was discovered weeks ago and is believed to be the first documented case of common owls nesting in Manhattan in modern history. The location drew crowds of residents and wildlife photographers to the street. Thomas Obersteiner, an Upper West Side resident, said he observed a man carrying an extension cord descending from the tower around midday Thursday.

The removal prompted public criticism from officials and bird watchers. New York State Senator Erik Bottcher wrote on social media that he was "outraged" by reports that construction work destroyed part of the structure housing Manhattan's first common owl nest, noting that "active nests of migratory birds" are protected under state and federal law. "Our urban wildlife deserves protection, and there must be accountability when these protections are violated," Bottcher added.

David Barrett, who runs the Manhattan Bird Alert social media account, said he inspected the tower Thursday and confirmed the roof was gone. "That nest was known, incredibly known; a lot was written about it," Barrett said. "It never should have happened." Barrett also stated that he observed the tower on Thursday and saw that the roof had been removed.

Common owl sightings in New York City parks are rare, according to the city's Department of Parks and Recreation. The state Department of Environmental Conservation reports that New York sits at the northern edge of the common owl's range and that the species' population has declined "at an alarming rate." It remains unclear who owns the building or who ordered the roof removed; the building manager declined to comment when reached by phone.