Photo: Jim Schofield/Getty Images Yes, 2020 was terrible for most things, but it was a banner year for the order Strigiformes in New York City. And now 2021 is already outclassing it: A snowy owl was spotted today in Central Park for the first time since 1890.
Normally Arctic residents, some of the stark-white owls, which can have a wingspan of up to five feet, move farther south during the winter, supplementing their usual diet of lemmings with mice and other rodents, which we have in abundance. New York State is at the southern end of the species’s winter range.
Unlike the tiny saw-whet, drab-colored barred, or even uniquely tufted the long-ear owl, a snowy owl is far easier to spot — especially when there’s no snow on the ground. The bird that’s in the park today was spotted near the North Meadow, hanging around the ballfields with an American crow. The city’s growing birding community have dropped everything and rushed to the park; Urban Park Rangers are on the scene to help control crowds and keep people at a distance.
Amazing !
Plz file complaints to 311 against the 🚁 over flights. If our Federally elected officials r serious about climate change, this is 1 of many issues that need to be addressed. SenSchumer SenGillibrand QualityofLifeinNYC StoptheChop Mentalhealth SavetheJKOreservoir
janthonylong JasonRBradwell owl content for you 🦉
Apropos for the day Biden signed new environmental legislation!!!🦉
(w)hooooooooo would have thought!
Oh, how pretty!
Disappointed at the lack of Harry Potter jokes in the comments...
So what does it mean? Climate change? Omen? Perhaps imparting 0wl-like wisdom?
Some of you are totally discounting the sightings in ‘63 and it shows
He is so beautiful. Hope he makes it his home.
how many GME it got?
BasuAshis People need to keep a safe distance.
Effective supplements to take when you suspect you have COVID-19 to avoid any complications
Glad it's mother didn't choose abortion as the alternative!!!
I didn’t know people care about birds so much untillike a year ago. Genuinely zero clue
Welcome boidy.
Beautiful pic! Stunning Owl! People go to Central Park for respite, fresh air and to see beautiful wildlife. Contact both NY Senators and tell them to 🛑 the tourist 🚁 flights OVER the Park. JKO would not approve of the noise and air pollution these 🚁 produce. CleanAir4NYC
And he is SO CUTE!
melissacarty End times
Winter is coming.
I wonder if its dark there. Maybe then the so-called journalists could go for a walk there and grow a pair eosnos NewYorker BorowitzReport and then muster up the courage to tell the truth about 9/11 NYPDChiefofDept NYPDShea
tuttijackson
My grandson’s snowy owl in Massachusetts.
Maybe it is the same one that was spotted in Seattle, the last few months .
Biedersam looking forward to your press conference
Might be the same one photoed in hoboken NJ , jersey shore has them
Hedwig? Have you any letters from Harry Potter?
What do you think the wise owl thinks of us?
Did it escape from the zoo?
pal_poncho Republican'ts -
O RLY?
Beautiful
Probably because there are LESS people to mess with its space. Enjoy the blessing.
There was one of those on the back deck with a bleeding mouse in it's beak...
CraigSJ munnygrip large birb
Hoot
CraigSJ I think it means a new Supreme TERF has been born
🦉