Stunning snowy owl spotted in Brooklyn for the first time in years
By Amanda Geffner and Meredith Gorman
Published January 6, 2025 6:29pm EST
Pets and Animals
FOX 5 NY
Snowy owl spotted at Brooklyn parkIn Brooklyn, a snowy owl was spotted over the holiday weekend. FOX 5 NY’s Meredith Gorman takes us to Shirley Chisholm Park where New Yorkers have been flooding to try and catch a glimpse of this rare bird.
BROOKLYN - Bird lovers and residents in Brooklyn were wondering "hoo" was flying into a Brooklyn Park over the holiday weekend.
A snowy owl made a rare appearance at Shirley Chisholm Park for the first time one of the birds has been seen in a few years.
The beautiful bird has stunning yellow eyes and is native to the Arctic. (Credit: Sheryl Checkman)
"It's a rare sighting for Brooklyn. Brooklyn doesn't get snowy owls every year. In fact, in the previous two years, Long Island wasn't even getting snowy owls, so birders have gone a while," said David Barret, founder of Manhattan Bird Alert.
The first sightings of the snowy owl came over a week ago. Its visit to the borough is considered part of the migration process when these owls come down to southern Canada and the Northern United States from the Arctic.
Word of the owl's visit to Brooklyn spread quickly, and the sightings had bird lovers pulling out their cameras and capturing footage while maintaining a distance from the animal.
(Credit: Sheryl Checkman)
"They're definitely elusive. It's a bird that's not unheard of in New York City by any means, but definitely a rare bird," birder Edmund Berry said. "Seeing any owl is wonderful and seeing a snowy owl is otherwordly."
The snowy owl hasn’t been seen since January 2, perhaps wrapping up its New York City winter getaway and moving on to its next destination.
Snowy owl makes rare appearance at Brooklyn Park | FOX 5 New York |
