The story sped around the world. A male Eurasian Eagle-owl named Flaco, bred in captivity and confined in a small cage in the Central Park Zoo for the first thirteen years of his life, was suddenly freed when a vandal sneaked into the zoo at night and cut the wire on his cage. At first the drama centered on whether he would be recaptured, but he eluded nets and traps set by zoo workers. Then the city held its breath for a week until Flaco hunted and killed his first rat, proving that he was capable of survival outside the zoo. Controversy raged in New York about whether the zoo was to blame for his escape and whether he should remain free. He was a weak flier at first and crashed into branches as members of the New York birding community followed him day and night. Soon he became a confident and strong flier and a competent hunter, and the city fell in love with him. His story was captivating: a caged bird somehow becoming free and learning to survive on his own. For one year, expert photographers like David Lei, Jacqueline Emery, Anke Frohlich, and others documented Flaco’s behavior and habits. But the city is a hostile environment for birds in general and raptors like owls in particular, and after spending an entire year as a free bird, Flaco abruptly crashed into a building and was found dead on the ground. The city mourned. A memorial at one of his favorite trees in Central Park on Sunday, March 4 attracted hundreds of mourners who left tributes around the tree and heard from speakers. Children’s drawings and letters, heartfelt letters from adults inspired by his story, flowers, stuffed owls, and votive candles surrounded the tree. The ceremony was live-streamed around the world and covered by local media, all for one beloved and unique owl.
Photographer Jacqueline Emery addressed the crowd
A mourner is nearly overcome with emotion
Photographer David Lei, well known bird photographer who documented Flaco’s year of freedom, read a moving tribute
David Lei’s photograph of Flaco on the grass was the centerpiece of the tribute
DeborahShapiroPhotos 