Flaco Is Remembered by New Yorkers in an Exhibition
Flaco, the Eurasian-Eagle owl, mesmerized New Yorkers after he escaped from his enclosure in the Central Park Zoo on February 2, 2023. For a year, he flew around the city, often startling and delighting people when he landed on balconies, fire escapes, and nearby trees, his bright yellow eyes taking it all in. He died on February 23 when he flew into a building on West 89th Street and fell to the ground. “The Year of Flaco,” a new exhibition at the New York Historical Society, celebrates this unlikely city hero who, in a short time, captured the hearts of young and old, locals and tourists. Many saw something in this raptor that comforted and inspired them.
Flaco on an Upper West Side Fire Escape, November 27, 2023, Courtesy of David Barrett
Opening around the anniversary of Flaco’s death, the exhibition includes dramatic photos taken by the photographers who documented the owl’s journey. Alongside the photos are notes from those who credit the owl with getting them through difficult times, whether a health crisis or the death of a loved one.
“This fall and winter have been indescribably hard for me as I’m grieving the loss of my mother after a four year battle with cancer,” wrote Nicole in one note. “Seeing you twice in October, hearing you hoot, watching you stretch your wings, and following your story on Twitter has been one of the only bright spots in my life. Thank you for bringing me and your other fans joy as we watched you and followed your story of freedom and survival. You will be greatly missed.”
Unidentified maker, Drawing with note left at Flaco memorial, 2024, Watercolor and marker on paper, Courtesy of Friends of Flaco, Photo: Glenn Castellano
“You first escaped your enclosure during a tough time for me, when I was battling crippling depression before getting the right treatment,” wrote Olivia. “You got me out of my apartment when getting up was the last thing I wanted to do. Seeing you peacefully in your tree turned the worst days around. And when I applied to law school I thought of you every time I felt like I would fail. You were the good luck charm I needed to succeed in that process. Your story inspired me and my family members 3,000 miles away. When I go to law school and conquer the unknown I will always think of you and be inspired. Fly high in heaven.”
Flaco and Indie the Cat, February 16, 2024, Courtesy of Marianne DeMarco
Why has Flaco evoked such passionate reactions from oftentimes cynical New Yorkers? His escape from captivity, made possible by someone who has never been caught, resonated with those who felt trapped in their personal or professional lives. New arrivals to the city related to what Flaco faced, attempting to survive in a new environment. Others became caught up in the saga of an owl who seemed to be enjoying his newfound freedom, visiting different parts off the city with abandon. He turned the tables on humans. When he peered in their windows, he was the spectator, they were the display.
Flaco’s legacy will have greater impact. Before his death, the NYC Bird Alliance helped to galvanize support for Local Law 15 which requires that new buildings and alterations must comply with bird friendly design construction requirements. The law’s intent, which became effective January 10, 2021, is to prevent birds and owls from flying into windows because they don’t see windows as barriers and don’t understand reflections. Bird-friendly materials include glass that is colored, frosted, stained, etched, opaque, or glass with a UV coating or pattern which birds see as ultraviolet light. The NYC Bird Alliance estimates that up to a quarter of a million birds die each year in the city after colliding with city buildings. (Click to read more about Local Law 15.)
The exhibition notes that after Flaco’s death, the public became more aware of the dangers posed to birds and owls. New York State legislators have renamed the Bird Safe Buildings Act the FLACO Act (“Feathered Lives Also Count”) and will renew efforts to get the bill signed into law. Other states – California, Minnesota, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan – also have laws to reduce birds and owls colliding with buildings. The Federal Bird Safe Buildings Act of 2023 would require “the General Services Administration (GSA) to develop and implement strategies for reducing bird fatalities from collisions with public buildings.” Although it’s unlikely the bill will be passed during Trump’s presidency.
Owls have always enjoyed a fan base. As creatures of the night, they remain somewhat mysterious. They are viewed as being wise and spiritual. And the owls featured in the Harry Potter novels, paticularly Hedwig the snowy owl, added to their popularity. But Hedwig, like so many of the owls in Disney productions, are not real. Flaco lived and died in New York and now is being remembered in an exhibition at the New York Historical Society and may soon have a statue in Central Park. Flaco may be gone, but he will not be forgotten any time soon.
Top: Flaco Stretching His Wings, Pre-Flyout Routine,
Rumsey Playfield, February 15, 2023
Courtesy of David Lei
