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THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MARCH 7 - 13, 2024 • PAGE 4
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Q
Local folk heroes
are a hoot
Fly free, Flaco.
The Eurasian eagle-owl that caught the attention and hearts of New Yorkers sadly died
in February, likely due to hitting a building, approximately a year after his escape from
the Central Park Zoo. Immediately, fans and mourners flocked to makeshift memorials to
honor the feathered fallen hero that many saw as a symbol for freedom and adventure.
According to Tracey Tully with The New York Times, Flaco's ability to thrive for a year
in Manhattan after flying away from the zoo in 2023 "captivated much of the city, offering
an enchanting object lesson about the power of instinct and the beauty of urban wildlife."
But Flaco isn't the only owl that made headlines in February 2023; at almost the
same time that Flaco was escaping the Central Park Zoo, a different feathered fellow was
making a name for itself in the metro-Atlanta area.
After falling down a chimney, an owl affectionately referred to as Fledwig by students
and staff decided to roost in the rafters of Agnes Scott College's McCain Library in Decatur.
Despite trying to entice the owl by bringing it mice, the bird wouldn't budge and decided
to make the library its home for approximately a week before a master falconer, using a
hydraulic lift, finally captured the bird and released it.
The owl, subject to countless Instagram posts by those eager to see a symbol of
wisdom and knowledge hanging out amongst the stacks, was also profiled in Southern
Living after going viral.
While it's easy to glorify Flaco and Fledwig as free spirits, it's also important that we
learn and understand how to help preserve and protect owl populations in their natural
habitats. These feathered folk heroes deserve to have humans as allies.
New York City's Flaco so Forever Free
