Rare Snowy Owl Appears in Central Park

On Wednesday morning, a snowy owl was spotted in Central Park’s North Meadow, a 23 acre area located between 97th and 102nd Streets. According to Manhattan Bird Alert, which first alerted the public about the sighting, this is not normal!

The SNOWY OWL on a west ballfield of the Central Park North Meadow, perhaps the first-ever documented record of this species in the park, with its new buddy, an American Crow. pic.twitter.com/jtiuPB1VRL

— Manhattan Bird Alert (@BirdCentralPark) January 27, 2021

The birding account followed up to clarify that owls and crows are not in fact buddies.

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According to Good Morning Gloucester, these two birds “are natural enemies because a murder of crows may mob an owl to death (or any raptor by which it feels threatened) and owls occasionally eat crows.” The article continues to state that crows eat during the day, and while most owl species feed at night, the snowy owl eats both at night and during daylight. So “their paths may occasionally cross.”

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Nevertheless, the owl didn’t seem too concerned about the crows.

The SNOWY OWL of the Central Park North Meadow was not much bothered by the crows that gathered around it earlier and that have now returned. People are staying behind distant fences and being quiet and respectful. pic.twitter.com/BKjGPRiKCZ

— Manhattan Bird Alert (@BirdCentralPark) January 27, 2021

By Wednesday afternoon, word had spread and a crowd of bird fans and photographers had formed.

The Central Park North Meadow SNOWY OWL continues, viewed by many delighted and respectful admirers now. pic.twitter.com/7Qy1xWYGgL

— Manhattan Bird Alert (@BirdCentralPark) January 27, 2021

While this may have been the snowy owl’s first visit to Central Park, they have been spotted around the city. A 2015 report by Audobon.org states that sightings have been known to take place in locations including Breezy Point and the Rockaways.

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