‘Flaco was magic’: locals call for memorial owl statue in Central Park

NEW YORK (PIX11) – Imagine New York City’s beloved, late owl Flaco permanently perched on a branch in the northwest quadrant of Central Park - a spot he used to hang out. 

It’s a vision shared by over 2,000 locals who want a statue built to commemorate the famous Eurasian eagle owl who died last week. 

“[We] would love to see a statue of Flaco added to the park to commemorate his legacy - and to remind us all to keep a curious, respectful eye out for the myriad wonderful beings with whom we share this space,” wrote Brandon Borror-Chappell and Mike Hubbard wrote in a Change.org petition asking city officials to consider the statue.

Flaco’s untimely death shook New York City after the owl crashed into a building on West 89th Street over a year after the owl escaped the Central Park Zoo, according to zoo representatives. 

A memorial Flaco statue would be hard to pull off given Central Park's scenic landmark status, meaning it would necessitate an extensive review process. Commemorative sculptures in the city's public parks are increasingly rare, according to a representative of the Parks department.

The petition creators said they're aware of the long road ahead, but want start by displaying broad support.

The bird’s death has already inspired lawmakers to amp up their fight for bird safety with the “FLACO Act,” formerly known as the “Bird Safe Building Act.”

But locals want another, more artistic commemoration for the bird that was so uniquely New York City – both an immigrant and a native and a lover of New York City’s bustle, the petition explains. 

“It was not Flaco’s fault that someone cut a hole in his enclosure. Drawn to the sights and sounds of the city he had only imagined for the first thirteen years of his life, he ventured out and learned why he had wings,” wrote Hubbard and Borror-Chappell in the petition. 

“We will all miss him (we do not speak for the rats, who surely will tell terrifying tales of his fearsome talons to future generations).”