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Finding Flaco: Our Year with New York City's Beloved Owl
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.
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.
- GenresNonfiction
224 pages, Hardcover
Published December 15, 2024
7 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 25, 2024
An amazing compilation of photos & text about our dear Flaco. Highly recommend. I followed the photographers on twitter in real time from the time our dear owl was set free until the end. This species of owl is huge but also so expressive. Jackie & David captured him almost daily & beautifully.
December 20, 2024
This is the incredible story of Flaco, an owl who escaped from the Central Park Zoo and who went on the live life large in Manhattan, including visiting iconic sites around the Big Apple. A must read for the bird lover in your life.
December 21, 2024
I fell in love with Flaco immediately after his escape from the Central Park Zoo. Luckily I followed both of these professional photographers who became Flaco’s biggest fans. They followed him everywhere & became trusted by him. I was totally devastated when Flaco died, most likely from rodenticide poisoning, used throughout Manhattan for rodent control. I am deeply happy to now own this stunning book with many amazing stories that accompany the superb photos. I’ll never forget Flaco and thank the authors for their much appreciated undertaking.
It is worth noting that since Flaco’s death, a law has been passed, Flaco’s Law, abandoning the use of rodenticide in Manhattan & instead using a birth control method of rodent control. I love you FLACO
It is worth noting that since Flaco’s death, a law has been passed, Flaco’s Law, abandoning the use of rodenticide in Manhattan & instead using a birth control method of rodent control. I love you FLACO
December 21, 2024
Just wonderful
January 2, 2025
Everyone in my family is loving, “Finding Flaco: Our Year with New York City’s Beloved Owl,” by Jacqueline Emery and David Lei. This master biography is a joy to explore and read. The breathtaking photographs and heartwarming sharing of Flaco’s incomparable life will comfort your heart and have you once again looking up into the treetops and rooftops this coming year.🦉
This book deserves the highest award!
This book deserves the highest award!
December 31, 2024
This is a beautiful book. The photos are gorgeous and the stories are educational and heart warming.
I cried multiple times while reading the book. I miss Flaco so much! The best we can do now is honor his legacy while fighting for legislation to protect our raptor friends.
I cried multiple times while reading the book. I miss Flaco so much! The best we can do now is honor his legacy while fighting for legislation to protect our raptor friends.
December 31, 2024
Magnificent.
I don’t use that word lightly. “Finding Flaco” is a stunning accomplishment both as a beautifully designed and produced tribute to Flaco and as a book that brings with it the physical joy of turning pages to find new delights in each one. If you were a Flaco-follower from the start and became acquainted with the authors and other Flaco photographers through their Twitter handles, you will love this book. If you never followed his story at all but love a well-told tale with amazing photography, you’ll love it as well. Anyone in-between – yes, you’ll love it too.
In our digital world it is sometimes too easy to click-scroll-swipe past photographs without pausing much longer than the time it takes for an “oh that’s lovely” to flicker through the mind. Thank goodness for that digital world, as it made Flaco’s journey accessible to so many through social media. Thank goodness as well that actual books still exist to put those digital images in a format that brings greater appreciation of their beauty and greater context to tell a full and impactful story.
Jacqueline Emery and David Lei have created this memoir of Flaco’s all-too-brief freedom with love: the text is lively and engaging as it carries the reader through Flaco’s story and the stories of those who came to know him well and shared his adventures with the world. Thoughtfully included maps put the locations in context of the greater city. Physically the book is of excellent quality as well – well-made, and large enough to deliver the beauty of the photography yet still light enough to sit comfortably in the hands as you read the text.
This is much more than a loving “souvenir book” though – on every page we see the care, craft, skill, and visual artistry involved in choosing which photos to use and HOW to use them for maximum visual and storytelling impact. Each photo is cropped, sized and placed for a purpose – a vertical crop lies perfectly beside a related column of text, and when there are multiple photos together on a page you realize that each one complements and adds to the story told by the others. It is a delight both to the eye and to the mind.
Page leads to page in a similar way – the section showing Flaco’s fondness for “his” construction equipment could have been “oh, a bunch of pictures of an owl on an excavator.” Instead, in selection and layout – which image deserves a full two-page layout, which images complement each other face-to-face (beak-to-beak?) across two pages, how to use the contrast of the bright yellow excavator and the turquoise soil screener – we see both a savvy raptor who has learned what makes a good hunting-perch and the larger impact of a wild creature set against urban industrial steel. Flaco the Eurasian eagle-owl was out of place in New York City – how much more is urban steel out of place in the natural world? He was an amazing individual with a story that captivated so many, and he left us so much to ponder as well.
@davidlei and @jacquelineUWS can be rightfully proud of this truly wonderful book - your hard work and thoughtful, caring approach are clear in every page.
In closing I’ll be like the friend who tells you to be sure to sit through to the very end of the credits of a movie – in “Finding Flaco” be sure to keep turning the pages past the Afterword, the Acknowledgements, and the Notes to the very last image. Fair warning: a tissue may be needed.
I don’t use that word lightly. “Finding Flaco” is a stunning accomplishment both as a beautifully designed and produced tribute to Flaco and as a book that brings with it the physical joy of turning pages to find new delights in each one. If you were a Flaco-follower from the start and became acquainted with the authors and other Flaco photographers through their Twitter handles, you will love this book. If you never followed his story at all but love a well-told tale with amazing photography, you’ll love it as well. Anyone in-between – yes, you’ll love it too.
In our digital world it is sometimes too easy to click-scroll-swipe past photographs without pausing much longer than the time it takes for an “oh that’s lovely” to flicker through the mind. Thank goodness for that digital world, as it made Flaco’s journey accessible to so many through social media. Thank goodness as well that actual books still exist to put those digital images in a format that brings greater appreciation of their beauty and greater context to tell a full and impactful story.
Jacqueline Emery and David Lei have created this memoir of Flaco’s all-too-brief freedom with love: the text is lively and engaging as it carries the reader through Flaco’s story and the stories of those who came to know him well and shared his adventures with the world. Thoughtfully included maps put the locations in context of the greater city. Physically the book is of excellent quality as well – well-made, and large enough to deliver the beauty of the photography yet still light enough to sit comfortably in the hands as you read the text.
This is much more than a loving “souvenir book” though – on every page we see the care, craft, skill, and visual artistry involved in choosing which photos to use and HOW to use them for maximum visual and storytelling impact. Each photo is cropped, sized and placed for a purpose – a vertical crop lies perfectly beside a related column of text, and when there are multiple photos together on a page you realize that each one complements and adds to the story told by the others. It is a delight both to the eye and to the mind.
Page leads to page in a similar way – the section showing Flaco’s fondness for “his” construction equipment could have been “oh, a bunch of pictures of an owl on an excavator.” Instead, in selection and layout – which image deserves a full two-page layout, which images complement each other face-to-face (beak-to-beak?) across two pages, how to use the contrast of the bright yellow excavator and the turquoise soil screener – we see both a savvy raptor who has learned what makes a good hunting-perch and the larger impact of a wild creature set against urban industrial steel. Flaco the Eurasian eagle-owl was out of place in New York City – how much more is urban steel out of place in the natural world? He was an amazing individual with a story that captivated so many, and he left us so much to ponder as well.
@davidlei and @jacquelineUWS can be rightfully proud of this truly wonderful book - your hard work and thoughtful, caring approach are clear in every page.
In closing I’ll be like the friend who tells you to be sure to sit through to the very end of the credits of a movie – in “Finding Flaco” be sure to keep turning the pages past the Afterword, the Acknowledgements, and the Notes to the very last image. Fair warning: a tissue may be needed.
December 31, 2024
"Finding Flaco" is more than just a captivating true story; it's a beautifully crafted tribute to a city, its wildlife, and the enduring human fascination with the unexpected. The book recounts the incredible year of freedom enjoyed by Flaco, the Eurasian Eagle Owl who escaped captivity at the Central Park Zoo and became an unlikely New York City celebrity.
What Makes This Book Special:
* High-Quality Production: The book itself is a testament to quality. The paper is thick and smooth, making for a luxurious reading experience. The photographs, many taken by talented wildlife photographers, are stunning. They capture Flaco in his natural element – soaring over the city, perched on skyscrapers, and even enjoying a meal of pigeons on a fire escape.
* Engaging Storytelling: Authors Jacqueline Emery and David Lei masterfully weave together the story of Flaco's escape, his adventures across the city, and the reactions of New Yorkers. We learn about the dedicated wildlife experts who tracked Flaco's movements, the citizen scientists who contributed to his story, and the outpouring of affection from the public.
* A Deeper Look: Beyond the captivating narrative, "Finding Flaco" delves into the complexities of urban wildlife, the challenges of animal rehabilitation, and the unique relationship between humans and the natural world in a concrete jungle.
Who Will Enjoy This Book:
* Nature Lovers: Anyone who appreciates wildlife and the wonders of the natural world will find this book captivating.
* New York City Enthusiasts: For those who love the Big Apple, this book offers a unique perspective on the city and its surprising inhabitants.
* Photography Buffs: The stunning photographs alone make this book a visual feast.
Overall:
"Finding Flaco" is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good story, appreciates beautiful photography, and is fascinated by the unexpected. It's a reminder that even in the heart of a bustling metropolis, nature finds a way to thrive, and that sometimes, the most unlikely creatures can capture our hearts.
What Makes This Book Special:
* High-Quality Production: The book itself is a testament to quality. The paper is thick and smooth, making for a luxurious reading experience. The photographs, many taken by talented wildlife photographers, are stunning. They capture Flaco in his natural element – soaring over the city, perched on skyscrapers, and even enjoying a meal of pigeons on a fire escape.
* Engaging Storytelling: Authors Jacqueline Emery and David Lei masterfully weave together the story of Flaco's escape, his adventures across the city, and the reactions of New Yorkers. We learn about the dedicated wildlife experts who tracked Flaco's movements, the citizen scientists who contributed to his story, and the outpouring of affection from the public.
* A Deeper Look: Beyond the captivating narrative, "Finding Flaco" delves into the complexities of urban wildlife, the challenges of animal rehabilitation, and the unique relationship between humans and the natural world in a concrete jungle.
Who Will Enjoy This Book:
* Nature Lovers: Anyone who appreciates wildlife and the wonders of the natural world will find this book captivating.
* New York City Enthusiasts: For those who love the Big Apple, this book offers a unique perspective on the city and its surprising inhabitants.
* Photography Buffs: The stunning photographs alone make this book a visual feast.
Overall:
"Finding Flaco" is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good story, appreciates beautiful photography, and is fascinated by the unexpected. It's a reminder that even in the heart of a bustling metropolis, nature finds a way to thrive, and that sometimes, the most unlikely creatures can capture our hearts.
December 27, 2024
I followed Flaco’s incredible story on Twitter for a year, which introduced me to a whole new community: NYC birders! It was a daily pleasure to see Jacqueline Emery’s and David Lei’s posts of Flaco with their stunning photos and stories of what Flaco was up to in his year of freedom. Like many, my heart still twinges when I think of him. Finding Flaco is GORGEOUS, the whole thing: the thoughtful storytelling from Day 1 when Flaco escaped the Central Park Zoo, to the exquisite million dollar photos that Jacqueline and David took and laid out for all of us to enjoy. Every tiny detail of Finding Flaco is so well crafted, from photo placement to compelling stories that make it difficult to put down. I gasped when I saw the photo of him flying, showcasing his impressive 6-ft wingspan. I have never seen a photo of Flaco flying like that before! I found myself hugging the book and creating a ritual of curling up with blankets so I could settle in and just lose myself in it. That’s a first for me, and yes I know how strange that sounds! It took me on a journey and felt quite healing. Finding Flaco is now my forever coffee table book, a daily reminder of good people, a great story, and a superb owl!
December 21, 2024
Finding Flaco is a magnificent book, and I adore it! The photos are exquisite, and perfectly selected and placed. The narrative is wonderful - beautifully paced, compelling, and very moving. Jacqueline Emery and David Lei have told Flaco's story with eloquence, simplicity, honesty, respect, and love for the courageous, intelligent, curious and beautiful Eurasian Eagle-Owl who escaped from the Central Park Zoo and beat the odds to survive and thrive as a wild bird in New York City for over a year. This book is a perfect tribute to Flaco, whose beauty, courage, intelligence, and spirit inspired love and admiration around the world and transformed many lives (including mine). My heartfelt thanks to Jacqueline and David for this remarkable book, which brings our beloved Flaco back to us in a masterpiece of art and heart that I will treasure all my life.
December 26, 2024
Like many people and many New Yorkers, I fell in love with Flaco the day he escaped the zoo. I joined a Facebook group filled with his fans, I visited his oak tree in Central Park and followed him daily. In that group was Jacqueline and David, the photographers, authors and creators of the book. They would post exquisite pictures of him, I followed their every move. Indeed most if not all of the photos of Flaco in the press-particularly the iconic ones--were taken by this couple. It was such a delight to receive the book with so many photos of Flaco that I hadn't seen before. Hundreds of gorgeous photos. The book is as magical as he was. And it is proudly on permanent display so I can get my Flaco fix at any time.
December 29, 2024
This book is so much more than I expected it to be. This is no amateur effort. It is beautiful, moving - and hefty!
As a New Yorker in exile, I could only follow Flaco's journey from across the country. As the year progressed and he survived, I thought I might try to see him on my next visit to the city. I envy all that were able to see him and thank all who shared their pictures of him.
When he died, I cried. And when I opened this book to the first page, which says only "For Flaco," I cried again. He just had that effect on people.
This book is a perfect tribute to a most amazing little guy. Congratulations to David and Jackie.
As a New Yorker in exile, I could only follow Flaco's journey from across the country. As the year progressed and he survived, I thought I might try to see him on my next visit to the city. I envy all that were able to see him and thank all who shared their pictures of him.
When he died, I cried. And when I opened this book to the first page, which says only "For Flaco," I cried again. He just had that effect on people.
This book is a perfect tribute to a most amazing little guy. Congratulations to David and Jackie.
January 12, 2025
I really enjoyed ‘Finding Flaco’ by Jacqueline Emery and David Lei and recommend this book to everyone who had the privilege of seeing Flaco in Central Park during his year of freedom, and to anyone who is interested in the lives of owls. The stories are captivating and well-written, and the photos of Flaco and other visiting owls are gorgeous. This is a very professional labor of love that not only brings Flaco’s story to life but also highlights the hazards birds of prey face in urban environments, and what we can do to help them. Many thanks to Jackie and David for sharing their owl adventures; their own story shines brightly here, too.
January 7, 2025
This book is an absolute must for not only Flaco lovers but for nature lovers, bird lovers, animal lovers, photography lovers. Flaco's story from captivity to freedom exploring New York City on his terms is both a moving, beautiful and emotional journey. It also raises important questions about animal welfare, and zoos. After following Flaco on Twitter through David and Jackie's photography, I'm so grateful for this stunning book honoring the one and only Flaco. This book is a treasure about one memorable year for the owl who captured hearts.
January 7, 2025
Finding Flaco is an amazing combination of his story and the gorgeous pictures by wildlife photographers Jacqueline and David. They both followed and breathtakingly captured his journey and life for an entire year in New York City as he flew about, hunted and gained his freedom. A must have for any Flaco fan. I am thoroughly impressed at all the details included in this book.
February 1, 2025
What an amazing beat by beat portrayal in word and photograph of the life of this great owl. We think Jackie and David have brought to life Flaco in a new way. You would think they were next to Flaco the entire time he was free given the detail in this book. Congratulations on a great read.
February 10, 2025
The book, its pictures, the writing are beautiful. I am so grateful to David and Jacqueline for their passion, and for sharing it with us. There is so much to appreciate in Flaco’s story, and it is so remarkably told. Thank you to both of you.
February 18, 2025
A beautiful and moving tribute to Flaco the Owl. You can tell it was a true labor of love for the authors. Highly recommended for anyone who loves birds, or tales of unexpected visitors who make it big in the city...
February 27, 2025
In itself, the photography would be worth the price of this book. But I so enjoyed reading the journey and wildness that Flaco became.
Extraordinary book. Proud to have been a kickstarter on this lovely work!
Extraordinary book. Proud to have been a kickstarter on this lovely work!
January 1, 2025
Flaco touched our hearts and now this book brings back the wonder of this beautiful bird. Pictures are brilliant and I couldn’t be happier with the book. The book is obviously a labor of love.
February 2, 2025
David and Jackie did such an amazing job on this book. The quality truly blew me away.
May 18, 2025
Beautiful and heartbreaking. I followed the story in real time, and I love seeing all of the photographs together.
April 16, 2025
Really enjoyed the story and all the pictures!
February 9, 2025
This is a beautifully written, well researched and stunning book. The photography is beautiful and Jackie and David bring you along on their journey following Flaco throughout his year of freedom in New York City. As a photographer who also photographed and followed Flaco during this time, their book brings back so many cherished memories and, in a way, brings him back to life.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews