https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/19/flaco-new-york-zoo-eagle-owl-central-park?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other It seems the Central Park Zoo has given up on trying to recapture Flaco the Eurasian Eagle Owl and it seems to be thriving off of rats. It may be the only chance to observe one in North …

[image] mabuva2021: allowing another invasive species At this point it’s just an introduced species - to become invasive it would have to multiply and spread. Unless they add a second bird that’s unlikely to happen.

They can hybridize with Great Horned Owl, for the record.

I doubt it has means to become invasive alone in the lark, it’d be interesting to know if it can hybridize, but personally I wouldn’t bother observing an escapee, it’s not much different from captured bird in a big enclosure.

I haven’t read the original news stories about this particular owl, but recapturing a large owl with appropriate rodent traps wouldn’t seem to be that difficult, unless this is a veeery smart owl! I need to read the stories to understand how those efforts failed.

Apparently there are groups who are trying to sabotage his recapture by scaring him away whenever zookeepers get close. Also, since he is hunting on his own I guess the zoo isn’t as concerned that he will perish in the wild.

That’s terrible. Honestly, why do people feel the need to do things like that? Disgusting.

[image] silversea_starsong: Because people want a “free” bird to stay free. Why put free in quotation marks? Free is the correct antonym of captive. And if he is succeeding on his own, I would not be convinced that recaptuing him is for his own good.

Captive animals live longer and healthier lives. Eurasian Eagle-Owl is a potentially invasive species in the US (sure it’s just one, but you can’t be too careful).

I can understand where you are coming from, but since he did live for most of his life in captivity it may be better for him if he was recaptured. He has little to no experience with the outside world and could injure himself or others if he got hit by a car or something. Not to mention, the potent…

Eurasian Eagle Owl in Central Park

Nature Talk

silversea_starsong February 21, 2023, 4:55pm 8

Because people want a “free” bird to stay free. It’s a strange cultural phenomenon among people who believe it’s for the best and morally right.

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Eurasian Eagle Owl in Central Park

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