I was fortunate enough to live in NYC during the commotion that was the first week when Eurasian Eagle-owl, Flaco, escaped his enclosure from the Central Park Zoo. During the following week, I knew that I wanted to be part of that experience. Similar to chasing a rare bird or some other atypical New York experience in which there is a sense of community around something very strange.
I have a lot of feelings about Zoos and their benefit/detriment to animals, especially for-profit zoos, and it is something I have thought a lot about since my visit to Flaco last year. They were a huge part of my childhood and something that I continually seek out in every new city or state that I visit or live in (but only AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums). This topic, in particular, is subject to an entirely different discussion but a worthwhile one when discussing Flaco and his ‘great escape’. Flaco was never a wild animal and under normal circumstances should not have been free in Central Park or this country at all but the unsavory backdrop of his freedom doesn’t take away from what a story it was.
After 2 trains and a ferry, I remember approaching Heckscher Playground, about a 5-minute walk from the 59th Street entrance, and being immediately shocked by the number of people looking up at a pine tree. In the middle of the tree, Flaco stood tall for all those watching in one of the few areas where there would be no limbs or branches getting in the way. My first impression was just laughter about how strange this whole scenario was and what I thought would be a long and possibly unsuccess search wound up taking less time than the line at the deli earlier in the day. My only frame of reference before that day, in terms of owls, were Barred Owls and Flaco looked to be 1.5x times biggest at least. I spent around 45 minutes hanging around with the photographers, birders, and random Central Park walkers enjoying the sheer beauty and weirdness of this scenario before moving on to the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir to enjoy some time with the American Coots hanging around there.
Since that week in early February 2023, I took 2 other trips to Central Park to see Flaco – unsuccessful both times. This story was one that I followed closely and was excited to see any updates about Flaco’s antics or run-ins with unexpected New Yorkers. Reading the news this morning I was, of course, sad to see that Flaco’s wild ride had ended but more so it was an end to an incredible story that brought attention to topics that deserved more attention – animal life in cities, the usage of poison for rat control, and overall just being aware of all the incredible life that exists minutes away from our door.
I was born and raised in New York City (Staten Island still counts) and that is part of the reason why Flaco’s story made me happy and gave me some hope that we would start doing a better job at protecting the nature and wildlife around us while enjoying it a little more ourselves. There was no better place in the country for this story to unfold. A shot at seeing Flaco was under a 2-hour trip, via public, for everyone in the City. The birding scene has a lot of hard opinions at times when it comes to escaped or domestic birds and their validity if they ‘count’. While most people wouldn’t classify seeing Flaco as seeing a wild bird it doesn’t take away from the reach that these stories have about spreading the greater message – enjoy what is around you. Yes, Flaco does not count for my life list but there are very few stories that I have from the past few years that will stick with me as well as Flaco will.
