Permits & development · Deals & development · 10/30/2026
Barn owl nest torn up as UWS water tower work goes on for a second day
Workers began tearing down the roof of an Upper West Side water tower where five young barn owls had nested. State DEC police told managers to pause the work on 10/29/2026, but work resumed the next day. DEC then delivered a cease and desist letter. Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal and the NYC Bird Alliance say the building ignored the order.
Reported by NY1Read the original ↗
What happened
Construction crews worked for two days on a rooftop water tower on the Upper West Side where a family of barn owls had nested, NY1 reported on 10/30/2026. Bird advocates said the owls were the first known to nest in Manhattan in modern history. Five young barn owls had drawn crowds since they were first spotted on the water tower earlier in the month.
On Thursday, 10/29/2026, the NYC Bird Alliance said it got calls that the roof of the water tower was being torn down. Police officers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) came to the building and told building managers to pause demolition of the water tower while they investigate. Jessica Wilson of the NYC Bird Alliance said she watched DEC police tell the superintendent and call the property manager to stop work. All five young owls were seen that evening flying back to the water tower to be fed.
On Friday, 10/30/2026, people were again seen working on the water tower. Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Bird Alliance members went to the building's foyer and knocked on the door, trying to reach the superintendent. Hoylman-Sigal said, "Your workers have to stop now," and called it "a case of them ignoring the law." DEC returned to the building for a second day to get the work stopped and later delivered a cease and desist letter.
David Barrett of Manhattan Bird Alert said it is illegal to disturb the nest of these birds. Bird experts said the young owls can fly at this age but cannot yet hunt. Wilson said advocates fear the owls may leave the site and lose access to feeding by their parents.
Key facts
- Location
- Rooftop water tower on a building on the Upper West Side, Manhattan (address not reported)
- Agency
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and its police officers
- First stop order
- 10/29/2026, DEC police told building managers to pause water tower demolition while they investigate
- Second visit
- 10/30/2026, DEC returned and later delivered a cease and desist letter
- Birds
- Five young barn owls, all accounted for on the evening of 10/29/2026
- Officials and groups
- Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, NYC Bird Alliance, Manhattan Bird Alert
- Source
- NY1, published 10/30/2026
What it means
Landlords
Rooftop work such as water tower repair or demolition can be halted by state DEC police if it disturbs a protected bird nest. In this case, work that continued after a verbal stop order was followed by a cease and desist letter.
Buyers and owners
Owners planning roof or water tower projects may want to check for nesting wildlife before work begins, since an active nest can stop the job and draw public and official attention.
The highlights
- Five young barn owls had nested on the Upper West Side water tower since early October.
- DEC police told building managers on 10/29/2026 to pause the demolition while they investigate.
- DEC delivered a cease and desist letter after workers returned on 10/30/2026.
Why it matters Landlords
Rooftop and water tower work can be stopped by state DEC if protected birds are nesting, which can bring delays and legal trouble.
What to do: Check rooftops and water towers for nesting birds before starting work.
Not known yet
- The building's address, owner and property management company
- Why the water tower was being demolished and who the contractor is
- Whether DEC will issue fines or other penalties
- Whether the owls stayed at the site after the second day of work
Background
Many NYC buildings rely on rooftop water tanks, and owners are generally required to have them inspected each year and keep them in safe, working order, which sometimes means repair or replacement. Separately, most native wild birds and their active nests are protected under federal and state wildlife laws. In New York State, the Department of Environmental Conservation enforces state wildlife rules, including through its Environmental Conservation Police officers.
Summary written by Bulwark from NY1’s reporting. The original story is at ny1.com. This is general information, not legal advice.
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Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0