NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — The death of a "beloved" barred owl Friday morning is being mourned from Central Park to Twitter.
The Central Park Conservancy confirmed with a "heavy heart" that an owl died after it was struck by a moving Conservancy maintenance vehicle at around 2:30 a.m.
The owl had been "flying low, likely in search of a meal" at the time of it's death. Staff immediately reported the incident and contacted Park Rangers, the conservancy tweeted.
"The barred owl's presence in Central Park brought so much joy, reminding all of us that the Park is a vital greenspace for all New Yorkers, including the wildlife that call it home," they added.
News of the owl's death caused quite a stir online.
"RIP Barry" was trending on Twitter Friday afternoon, even though the Central Park Conservancy told Insider that it was unclear whether the bird that had died was the famed "Barry the Barred Owl," which inspired its own Twitter account.