00:00Seven barn owls have reportedly made an old water tank in Manhattan their home,
00:04and this is no ordinary city nesting site.
00:06The family includes two adults and five young owls,
00:09living near Central Park on the Upper West Side.
00:12They were first spotted on October 6.
00:15Local birder David Barrett says the nest is unprecedented in recorded Manhattan history.
00:20He describes barn owls as extremely rare in New York City's urban areas.
00:25Their location offers a practical advantage.
00:27Central Park provides nearby hunting grounds where the owls can search for rodents after dark.
00:33The young birds are also expected to stay nearby for now as they learn to hunt independently.
00:38The parents may continue using the tank as long as it remains open, according to Barrett.
00:44For New York's bird watchers, this unusual family offers a rare glimpse of wildlife
00:49thriving in an unexpected corner of the city.
