Podcast Summary: "Rest in Peace, Flaco" on All Of It by WNYC

Release Date: February 21, 2025
Host: Alison Stewart (guest-hosted by David Furst)
Guest: Rebecca Klassen, Associate Curator of Material Culture at the New York Historical
Episode Title: Rest in Peace, Flaco
Podcast Description: ALL OF IT is a show about culture and its consumers, aiming to engage thinkers, doers, makers, and creators about the what and why of their work, fostering a community around diverse perspectives.

Introduction: Remembering Flaco

The episode commemorates the one-year anniversary of Flaco the owl's death, an iconic New Yorker whose escape from the Central Park Zoo captivated the city. Flaco's story is now featured in a new exhibit at the New York Historical titled "The Year of Flaco."

Notable Quote:

"The exhibition explores all of those factors. We look at collisions with glass provide stats such as In North America, 1 billion birds. I'm sorry, 1 million birds die every year." — Rebecca Klassen [07:58]

Flaco's Journey: From Captivity to Wild

Flaco, a Eurasian eagle owl born on March 15, 2010, lived in captivity at the Central Park Zoo until his escape on February 2, 2023. Over the following year, Flaco navigated the challenges of urban life, ultimately passing away on February 23, 2024.

Key Points:

• Species Characteristics: Flaco was one of the largest owl species, with a wingspan of about six feet and distinctive tawny and buff feathers with orange eyes.

  "He had kind of tawny and buff feathers modeled in places barred and the wings and on the tail. And he had orange eyes that really captivated people seeing." — Rebecca Klassen [06:06]

• Escape Details: Flaco escaped due to vandalism—a deliberate cutting of his enclosure's steel mesh using power tools, highlighting issues of animal captivity and human interference.

• Adaptation to Urban Life: Initially struggled with hunting and navigation but gradually adapted by improving his hunting skills and adjusting to the urban environment.

  "He first had to gain capability, you know, strengthen his wings... he couldn't fly long distances. He would kind of more hop from branch to branch and then kind of rest." — Rebecca Klassen [23:02]

The Year of Flaco Exhibition

Curated by Rebecca Klassen, the "Year of Flaco" exhibition at the New York Historical showcases Flaco's life and legacy through various artifacts and multimedia displays.

Exhibition Highlights:

• Memorial Objects: Letters and personal items left at Flaco's favorite oak tree in Central Park, reflecting deep emotional connections from the community.

  "The emotional heart of the exhibition is a collection of memorial objects that were left at the base of Flaco's favorite oak tree in Central Park." — Rebecca Klassen [04:16]

• Bird-Related Artwork: Includes original preparatory watercolors for John James Audubon's Birds of America and anticipates a Flaco-specific collection.

• Photographs and Videos: Features 31 photographs by nine photographers capturing key moments in Flaco's life, such as his first hunt and interactions with other animals.

• Interactive Elements: Visitors can touch bird-friendly window retrofit examples, promoting conservation efforts.

Notable Quote:

"It's kind of of a piece. And we also have a large collection of bird related artwork." — Rebecca Klassen [05:07]

Community Impact: Stories and Tributes

The episode features multiple listener calls sharing personal anecdotes about Flaco, illustrating his profound impact on New Yorkers.

Listener Stories:

• Adita from Queens: Advocates for Flaco's Laws to protect future bird populations by eliminating harmful rat poisons and implementing bird-safe glass retrofits.

  "I'm working on legislation to pass Flaco's Laws and all New Yorkers can help with this because this is how we can save future Flacos and save over a quarter of a million birds a year." — Adita [08:50]

• Janelle from Brooklyn: Shares a creative connection with Flaco through indie movie posters and reflects on his symbolic significance as a beacon of hope.

  "Flaco was featured on one of my favorite ones that she made called 'When the Owl Sleeps,'... Flaco got out and was a symbol of hope." — Janelle [10:19]

• Kate Hines' Personal Encounter: Describes an intense experience chasing Flaco across apartment buildings on New Year's Eve, resulting in a minor injury.

  "I dragged my injured friend like, 20 yards just to see Flaco. But I think she would say it's worth it." — Kate Hines [16:18]

• Jonathan from Brooklyn: Discusses his role in publishing an illustrated book about Flaco and preserving memorial objects, emphasizing Flaco's role as a unifying figure.

  "Flaco was a gift to the community... a collective portrait of the spirit of New York." — Jonathan [12:05]

Emotional Connections: Flaco served as an inspiration for individuals facing personal struggles, symbolizing resilience and the human-animal bond.

"He was a beautiful bird and so telling these stories... they found joy in him." — Rebecca Klassen [04:16]

Conservation Efforts: Flaco's Legacy

The exhibition and community initiatives focus on addressing environmental threats to urban bird populations, inspired by Flaco's life and untimely death.

Flaco's Laws:

• Intro 1073 and Intro 896: Legislative bills aimed at creating a bird-friendly New York City by banning harmful rat poisons and retrofitting buildings with bird-safe glass.

  "This would be a historic package of bills that would make New York City one of the most bird friendly in the country." — Adita [08:50]

• Public Advocacy: Collaboration with the Lights Out Coalition and encouragement for listeners to contact city council members to support the legislation.

Environmental Impact:

• Bird Mortality Statistics: Highlights the tragic loss of approximately one million birds annually in North America, with a significant portion in New York City.

  "In North America, 1 billion birds. I'm sorry, 1 million birds die every year. A quarter million of those in New York City." — Rebecca Klassen [07:58]

Flaco's Symbolism and Future Legacy

Flaco transcended his status as an escaped zoo animal to become a cultural symbol representing freedom, community, and the intricate relationship between humans and wildlife.

Symbolism:

• Hope and Inspiration: Served as a source of comfort and motivation for individuals facing adversity.

  "He was a source of inspiration, of magic." — Rebecca Klassen [02:46]

• Community Building: Fostered connections among bird enthusiasts and the broader public, strengthening communal ties.

  "He highlighted all of that kind of gathering and community building and the way that people would share stories and connect with each other." — Rebecca Klassen [02:46]

Future Legacy: Rebecca Klassen emphasizes the importance of preserving Flaco's story for future generations, allowing history to interpret his impact on New York City's cultural and environmental landscape.

"They're preserving the evidence of what New Yorkers in 2023 and 2024 felt for people to learn from in the future." — Rebecca Klassen [34:40]

Conclusion: Celebrating Flaco's Life

The episode concludes by acknowledging the collective mourning and celebration of Flaco's life, urging continued community involvement in conservation and remembering the positive influence Flaco had on New Yorkers.

Final Remarks:

• Exhibition Availability: "The Year of Flaco" exhibition is on view at the New York Historical through July 6.

• Call to Action: Encouragement for listeners to engage with the exhibit, support conservation efforts, and share their own Flaco stories.

Notable Quote:

"Animals teach us something about ourselves in a way that... we underestimate. Allow someone like Flaco to kind of tell us what we need." — Rebecca Klassen [29:09]

Additional Noteworthy Moments

• Fact Correction: Rebecca Klassen acknowledges an error regarding bird mortality statistics, correcting from "1 billion" to "1 million" birds dying annually in North America.

  "I actually did say 1 billion first. And then I strangely corrected myself to 1 million. But thank you so much for that." — Rebecca Klassen [19:27]

• Personal Injuries Highlighting Flaco's Influence: A listener named Hillary adds depth to Kate Hines' story by noting the irony of Flaco being visible across the street as her friend was being assisted after the incident.

  "What Kate neglected to mention was the vast irony of the situation when we were icing my nose, face, and so on in Kate's apartment after being injured, Flaco was ironically perched directly across the street at the same level as Kate's apartment." — Hillary [33:11]

Final Thoughts

"Rest in Peace, Flaco" serves as a heartfelt tribute to an extraordinary owl whose brief taste of freedom left an indelible mark on New York City's cultural and environmental consciousness. Through personal stories, expert insights, and a compelling exhibition, the episode encapsulates Flaco's legacy as a symbol of hope, community, and the enduring bond between humans and the natural world.

For those interested in further engagement, listeners are encouraged to visit the "Year of Flaco" exhibition at the New York Historical and participate in ongoing conservation efforts to honor Flaco's memory.