New York City's Latest Famous Family Is a Hoot. Yes, They're Barn Owls.

Upper West Side residents have become captivated by what appears to be a new Manhattan celebrity: a family of barn owls. The first clue came at night about a month ago, when Elisabeth Williams heard a high-pitched screech from her apartment patio. Over weeks, she and her husband, Sam, kept noticing the same call. On Oct. 3, Sam spotted the bird in flight, and a photo taken afterward revealed a barn owl—rare for Manhattan. They named it Scotty, then discovered more: a family perched on a water tower rooftop near West 75th Street and Central Park West. Photos were shared via West Side Rag, local TV, and social media.