A Vigil For the Barred Owl

Photo by @gigpalileo

On Monday evening, hundreds gathered to hold a vigil for the Barred Owl who recently died in Central Park after colliding with a Central Park Conservancy vehicle. Flowers were left in the owl’s honor, chalk-written messages were written, and a portrait of the owl was created by @wildnewyorkshow, who included a quote: “Nothing in a forest ever dies … it just changes shape.”

Nothing in a forest ever dies, it just changes shape.
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Rest In Peace, little Barred Owl. #RIPBarry #birdcpp #nycwildlife #wildnewyork #chalkart #birding #birdwatching pic.twitter.com/kt1Rg9q5U9

— ?Wild New York ? (@wildnewyorkshow) August 9, 2021

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What a night ? owl the feels ?? pic.twitter.com/MtPPBytb2T

— Barry the Barred Owl (@BarryBarredOwl) August 10, 2021

Some tributes to the BARRED OWL already chalked on the path underneath her hemlock in the Central Park Ramble. pic.twitter.com/GVeH440xXQ

— Manhattan Bird Alert (@BirdCentralPark) August 7, 2021

The gathering was held by an old hemlock tree in The Ramble where the owl – who is believed to be Barry – had frequently been spotted. (The Central Park Conservancy told Gothamist that they could not confirm the bird’s identity for sure, also adding that the incident took place in the low 60s).

Manhattan Bird Report writes that Monday would have marked the ten-month anniversary of the Barred Owl’s residency.

A Barred Owl was first noticed in October 2020 at The Loch at 102nd Street in Central Park, with a second to soon be spotted in Riverside Park.

Twitter and Instagram accounts were created for Barry earlier this year, and the creators are seeking video submissions from anyone interested in filming a tribute.