![]() “Flaco has been doing well,” said David Barrett, who runs the Twitter accounts Manhattan Bird Alert, Brooklyn Bird Alert and Bronx Bird Alert. He flew to Fifth Avenue, where police tried to catch him, and visited the park skating rink. The search was launched on 2 February after the discovery vandals had cut the bird’s enclosure. He showed interest but didn’t fall for the ruse. Zoo officials tried to lure Flaco with bait and recordings of eagle-owl calls. They have large talons and distinctive ear tufts. The Eurasian eagle-owl is one of the larger species, with a wingspan of up to 2m, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society. Officials acknowledged that recovering Flaco was difficult, especially “since he has been very successful at hunting and consuming the abundant prey in the park”. But when he started coughing up fur and bones, it was proof he had been hunting. In the early days of his escape he was not seen eating. The bird’s name in Spanish means “skinny”. “We are going to continue monitoring Flaco and his activities and to be prepared to resume recovery efforts if he shows any sign of difficulty or distress,” officials said. Zoo officials said they were suspending recovery operations but would keep a close eye on the owl. Would Flaco, a majestic Eurasian eagle-owl, go hungry because he had not developed an ability to hunt while in captivity? The answer was a resounding no: Flaco is feeding on park rats.
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