Tributes poured in on Saturday for Flaco, the beloved Eurasian eagle-owl that captured the hearts of New Yorkers after escaping from the Central Park Zoo last year. The 13-year-old bird was found dead on a sidewalk in New York City after apparently flying into a building. Flaco's death has left birders and admirers devastated, with many sharing memories and expressing their grief on social media. The Wild Bird Fund, a wildlife rehabilitation center, declared Flaco dead shortly after the collision and a necropsy was expected to be conducted on Saturday.

Flaco's escape from the zoo last year, after vandals damaged his enclosure, turned him into a celebrity in the city. Despite initial attempts to recapture him, Flaco thrived in the urban environment, hunting rats and pigeons around Manhattan. The owl's frequent sightings and nightly hoots became a source of joy for many New Yorkers, who followed his movements eagerly.

However, Flaco's sudden silence in the days leading up to his death raised concerns among bird enthusiasts. David Barrett, who runs the Manhattan Bird Alert account, suspected that Flaco may have been ill, as he had not been heard hooting around his usual roost on the Upper West Side for several days. The news of Flaco's death has left many in mourning, with some suggesting a permanent statue or a burial in Central Park to honor the owl's memory.

The Central Park Zoo expressed hope that the vandal responsible for damaging Flaco's enclosure would be caught and prosecuted. The zoo staff initially tried to recapture the owl but eventually let him roam free after he appeared to adapt well to life outside of captivity. Flaco's death has sparked an outpouring of grief and reflection on the impact he had on the city during his time as a free bird.