Dozens of grieving fans of Flako the Eurasian Eagle Owl gathered in New York City on Sunday to say goodbye to the beloved celebrity who became an inspiration and joy to many when he flew around Manhattan after someone picked him up from his zoo enclosure. let out.
A memorial service consisting of speeches, songs and poems was held late in the evening in Central Park at what organizers call Flacco’s favorite oak tree.
Flacco was found dead on February 23 after crashing into a building on the Upper West Side. An examination by a zoologist revealed that he suffered from traumatic impact injuries, but further testing is planned to determine if he may have been ill.
His death was a heartbreaking end for the birders who documented his daily movements and the legions of admirers who came with him, such as people with nearly 6-foot-wide wingspans perched on tree branches, fence posts, They used to post pictures and videos of amazing owls escaping from the fire. And water towers – as well as his clockwork.
“With all these difficult times that are happening around the world, this bird really became a symbol of hope and brought many of us together,” Brian Delgado said at the gathering.
David Leigh, a hobbyist in town, said losing Flacco was hard to put into words. He said the owl suffered the same fate as many other birds in Manhattan — flying into the treacherous windows of tall buildings.
“Flacco was larger than life and is leaving a legacy to match,” Lee said. “I am grateful to him today, as every day I saw him, for the joy, fear and wonder he inspired us throughout the journey.”
People at the event also praised new laws aimed at preventing birds from flying into buildings and helping to curb the use of rat poison that large birds ingest while eating prey. Efforts are also underway to install a statue of Flacco in Central Park.
Flacco was freed from his cage at the Central Park Zoo a year ago by a vandal who broke through a waist-high fence and cut a hole through the steel mesh cage. The owl came to the zoo 13 years ago as a servant.
Zoo officials and his fans were initially concerned about his survival, but he soon proved adept at catching rats and other prey. Zhou later suspended attempts to recapture him after unsuccessful attempts.
After his death, tributes were paid to him from all over the world.
The police are still trying to arrest the man who took him out of the area.
