FLACO THE EURASIAN EAGLE-OWL landed on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan bewildered and afraid after his enclosure at the Central Park Zoo was vandalized on February 2, 2023. Many feared for his safety and welfare because he could not fly well and had never hunted before. He evaded rescue for the next two weeks and began to embrace his new life as a wild owl. Flaco initially settled in Central Park and later explored neighborhoods around Manhattan, enchanting New Yorkers everywhere he went. He sadly and unexpectedly died a year after his release on February 23, 2024, when the hazards of the urban environment finally caught up with him.

Wildlife photographers Jacqueline Emery and David Lei were immediately fascinated by Flaco and observed him more than 150 times, from the night of his release until the week before his death. The photos and firsthand accounts they shared contributed to making Flaco one of the most well-known and beloved animals in the world. Finding Flaco tells the story of this beautiful, charismatic, and intelligent bird based on the intimate looks that Emery and Lei had into his life. They document Flaco’s remarkable transformation as he learned how to do owly things like fly, hunt, establish territory, protect himself from mobbing birds, and adapt to the four seasons. And they draw exciting parallels between Flaco’s behavior and that of the other owls who have recently resided in the park. The book also examines how and why Flaco meant so much to so many, showcasing stories and artwork by some of Flaco’s most ardent admirers.

Although Flaco’s adventures in the city ended tragically, his legacy lives on. The book explores the community response to his death and ongoing efforts to make New York safer for raptors and other birds. Emery and Lei also offer insights gleaned from their observations of nearly twenty wild Eurasian eagle-owls in Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands and their conversations with local conservationists and researchers.