News about the barn owl family spread across New York City after Upper West Side resident Elisabeth Williams stated on 6/10 that she and her husband had seen several owls at a water tower on a building on West 75th Street, near the western edge of Central Park.

Williams recalled that a few days prior, she and her husband had seen an owl perched on their apartment window ledge and were astonished.

"In a place like Manhattan, you usually have to go far to experience nature," she said. "But here, it appeared right outside our window."

A barn owl perches on a water tower in Manhattan's Upper West Side, New York, on 14/10. Photo: *AP*.

The presence of the barn owl family has truly surprised experts. "This truly surprised us," said Andrew Farnsworth, an ornithologist studying migratory birds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. According to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, barn owl sightings in New York parks are extremely rare. New York is on the northern edge of the barn owl's distribution map, and their population has declined "at an alarming rate" over time.

Jessica Wilson, executive director of the NYC Bird Alliance, highlighted the species' unique nature: "This species is wonderful, nocturnal, mysterious, and rarely seen, especially in Manhattan's Upper West Side. The opportunity to see these birds firsthand is truly magnificent."

Photographers and curious onlookers gather on the street each evening to watch the owl family. The nest in the water tower is estimated to contain two adults and 5-6 fledglings.

The discovery followed earlier signs. Prior to these recent barn owl sightings, Williams and her husband had heard regular hissing sounds outside since early September. They were skeptical when a phone app identified the sound as belonging to barn owls. Thomas Obersteiner recounted that he began hearing strange hissing and wailing sounds one evening in mid-September. It sounded as if someone "was crying desperately," he described. Farnsworth noted that this hissing is characteristic of barn owls, used for communication. He described it as like "an experience from a horror movie."

New York residents bring binoculars and cameras to observe the barn owls on 13/10. Photo: *AP*.

Residents are thrilled by the rare spectacle. "I've only ever seen one barn owl in my life, and that was in California," shared New York resident Val Coleman. "Everyone is waiting to watch them hunt at dusk. We just hope they don't eat poisoned rats."

The event is particularly noteworthy for the city. "Having one barn owl is rare, but not national news. However, having an entire family breeding for the first time in Manhattan is incredibly special news," said David Barrett, manager of the popular social media account Manhattan Bird Alert.

By Hong Hanh (According to AP, Reuters)