Flaco the owl, a symbol of self-reliance in New York City, is dead, says wildlife group

Flaco in Central Park. You are gone but not forgotten.

Flaco the owl, who charted his own path through the skies of Manhattan and captured the public imagination since gaining freedom last year, has died, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society.

“We are saddened to report that Flaco, the Eurasian eagle owl discovered missing from the Central Park Zoo after his exhibit was vandalized just over a year ago, is dead after an apparent collision with a building on West 89th Street in Manhattan,” the organization said in a statement late Friday.

Alan Drogin, a resident of the Upper West Side building where Flaco was found — and a birder for the past 30 years — said he discovered the owl after the superintendent alerted him around 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

“He was splayed out, face down. Just outside the basement door to the courtyard of our building,” Drogin said in an interview Saturday. “It was not a pretty sight.”

The bird had become a symbol of the defiant resilience that has characterized many of his fellow New Yorkers. He upended assumptions that he would not be able to hunt and survive in the wild city and has been spotted and photographed numerous times since gaining his freedom.

But ultimately the city that made him famous, was the cause of his death. Flaco’s life ended — as has that of many birds — after colliding with a building.

The owl escaped the zoo just more than a year ago after alleged vandals damaged the mesh enclosure where he had lived.

“The vandal who damaged Flaco’s exhibit jeopardized the safety of the bird and is ultimately responsible for his death,” WCS said in a statement. “We are still hopeful that the NYPD, which is investigating the vandalism, will ultimately make an arrest.”

Drogin saw Flaco moving — prompting him to rush to call the Wild Bird Fund — but the bird was ultimately declared dead. Despite the symbolism that accompanied Flaco’s escape, Drogin said he thought the bird to be brought to a safer location.

“An animal that is bred in captivity for most of its life, maybe shouldn't be put in a zoo," Drogin said. "But if that's the consequences of their life, they should be given proper sanctuary and living in the city was not proper sanctuary for it at all."

Flaco's death follows another sad ending to the life of a famous city bird earlier this month: Rover the bald eagle was allegedly killed after being hit by a vehicle on the Henry Hudson Parkway.

A memorial is being held for Flaco in Central Park on Saturday, at an oak tree he frequented near East Drive and 104th Street.