NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — Several hundred fans of beloved Eurasian-eagle owl Flaco gathered near his “favorite oak” in Central Park on Sunday afternoon to memorialize him just over a week after his untimely death.
Flaco, who became a local celebrity when he escaped from the Central Park Zoo in February 2023, died on Feb. 23 from acute traumatic injury after zoo officials believe he collided with an Upper West Side building.
The memorial was advertised on X by Manhattan Bird Alert, an account with over 90,000 followers that shares bird and nature photography from the area.
“The memorial service for Flaco will be Sunday, March 3, from 4 to 5 pm near Flaco's favorite oak by East Drive near the 102nd Street Crossing in Central Park. 🦉❤️,” the post read.
David Lei, a wildlife observer, live streamed the memorial on his X account.
Breanne Delgado took to the microphone to welcome the crowd of mourners, fans, wildlife enthusiasts and press who gathered to commemorate Falco.
“Flaco really meant a lot to me, personally,” Delgado said. “I’m an astrologer, so I had my eye on the Leo full moon that happened on February 2nd of last year. So when I saw that a bird had escaped the Central Park Zoo, I said ‘oh my gosh, that is the most Leo thing ever, how courageous and bold, like a lion.’”
Following her remarks, Delgado invited other attendees to line up and share their sentiments about Flaco with public eulogies.
Carol said that Flaco inspired thousands. “Because of his intrepidness, and his grace,” she remarked.
A petition to have a statue of Flaco erected in Central Park currently has 1,328 signatures out of its 1,500 goal.
“By erecting a statue in honor of Flaco at Central Park, we can commemorate this beloved owl and raise awareness about wildlife conservation,” Jess McGraw, who started the petition, wrote. “It will serve as a reminder for all New Yorkers about our responsibility towards animals who share this city with us.”
Flaco, who was born and raised in captivity, became a symbol of freedom for many New Yorkers by escaping the zoo and teaching himself to fly and hunt. He was frequently spotted and photographed throughout the city.
In a statement on the day of his death, the Central Park Zoo said that officials had been keeping track of Flaco and were prepared to recover him if he was experiencing difficulty or distress.
“We appreciate all the support and concern over the well-being of Flaco throughout the past year and the many people who contacted us with updates,” the zoo said.