David Barrett, a birder and founder of Manhattan Bird Alert, noted, "It's one of the most beautiful and distinct owls in the world. It's the owl from Harry Potter - Hedwig... It's a rarity. It's a rare sighting in New York City, generally one we only get in the middle of winter."
Barrett elaborated on the specifics of the snowy owl's visit, saying, "The owl was likely a first-year bird that was hatched this past summer, and had probably embarked on a 1,000+ mile journey before taking a break in the city."
According to the American Bird Conservancy, "There are less than 30,000 snowy owls remaining in North America, and only 200,000 globally, so it certainly was a treat for New Yorkers to catch a glimpse of one!"
Barrett explained why Shirley Chisholm State Park is ideal for snowy owls, stating, "It's an excellent habitat for a Snowy Owl thanks to it being relatively flat, not densely forested, and stocked full of NYC rats."
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