Has Flaco the owl escaped New York’s Central Park? Bird watchers in Manhattan say the zoo’s escaped eagle owl has left in search of a mate

Nine months after escaping from his cramped bachelor pad in New York’s Central Park Zoo, the city’s most famous feathered resident is stretching his wings in search of love.

Flaco, the Eurasian Eagle Owl, made headlines around the world when he took advantage of vandalism at the city zoo to seek freedom.

Although New York police and zoo staff feared he would not survive, Flaco defied the odds and taught himself to fly well and feed on the city’s plentiful supply of rats.

Now experts believe he may have left the park in search of a partner after being spotted five miles away on East 3rd Street.

But it may have to travel a little further south of Manhattan, as it is thought to be the only member of its species in North America.

“It’s that time of year when these owls seem to pair off when disconnected,” Manhattan Bird Alert fans tweeted.

‘Flaco’s cries have gone unanswered for a long time.

“He was last seen in Central Park on the evening of October 31, which is when we believe he left.

‘He probably made short, gradual night flights during the hunt that carried him more than three miles in six days.

“He doesn’t know that there are no friends anywhere in the region.”

Flaco was less than a year old when he arrived at the Central Park Zoo in 2010 and took up residence near the Penguins and Sea Birds building.

He had little chance to develop his flying or hunting skills in captivity, but has done well since his escape and has been seen eating up to four rats in one go, giving his name, which means ‘Skinny’ in Spanish , belies.

His fans remain nervous that he will fall victim to the rodenticide used to poison rats and believed to have contributed to the death of a barred owl known as Barry, who died in the park in 2021.

But his natural talents helped convince zoo keepers to give up their attempts at reconquest – along with a petition for his freedom that attracted 1,500 signatures.

Not all residents of the park were happy with their new neighbor, as Bird Alert reported that “the large flock of American Crows that harassed Flaco daily might also have encouraged him to venture beyond Central Park.”

But tourists from around the world have flocked to see the escapee with the two-metre wingspan, who was described by French newspaper Le Monde as having a backstory ‘worthy of a Walt Disney screenplay’.

And his fellow New Yorkers are watching his latest adventure with bated breath.

‘Can’t we find someone to help him? This is New York City, dammit!’ tweeted Terry Rosen.

“Poor Flaco, he’s lonely even though he has a loyal following, which isn’t the same as having your own Missus,” Lucyinthesky wrote.

“Flaco is about to find out what dating in New York is like,” Branwynne wrote.

“Flaco has the right idea,” PugofGloom added

“NYC is done.”

But Flaco may still be exploring the city’s nightlife for a while.

“He is unlikely to move outside of New York City,” his followers wrote at Manhattan Bird Alert

‘First of all, he probably won’t want to cross the rivers or the harbour.

‘Birds generally have an excellent geographical memory.

“If Flaco wants to get back to Central Park, he needs to know how.”