'Bird Safe Building Act' renamed 'FLACO Act' after beloved owl's death

NEW YORK (PIX11) -- After the death of Flaco, the eagle-owl that escaped from the Central Park Zoo, New York lawmakers announced Monday they would rename the "Bird Safe Building Act" to the "FLACO Act."

The "Bird Safe Building Act" was introduced in May 2023 by Sen. Brad Hoylman (NY-D) of the 47th District and would require all new or altered state buildings to use "bird-friendly designs," according to Hoylman.

Flaco died after colliding with a building on the Upper West Side in Manhattan, the Central Park Zoo announced Friday.

The "FLACO Act" or the "Feathered Lives Also Count" Act was renamed to honor Flaco after New Yorkers fell in love with his story of escaping the zoo and possible search for a partner to mate with.

“I’m gutted at the death of Flaco the owl, who delighted countless New Yorkers through his presence in Central Park. His death after apparently striking a glass window pane raises the importance of our passing common-sense laws to help stop preventable window strikes, which kill millions of birds, like Flaco, each year. By renaming our legislation to require state-owned buildings to incorporate bird friendly designs, we’ll not only honor this magnificent creature, but hopefully inspire our legislative colleagues to pass both the FLACO Act and the Dark Skies Protection Act,” said Hoylman.

The FLACO Act has not yet been written into law; it still has to pass through the Senate before it can be delivered to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's desk for final approval.