A six-foot bronze bird. A memorial. That’s what this sculpture is. It’s part of The Lost Bird Project. Artist Todd McGrain created it. He wanted to create shapes that conveyed the presence of lost birds. He wanted to remind us of their absence.
This isn’t just any bird sculpture. This is a Passenger Pigeon. Specifically a six-foot bronze Passenger Pigeon. It stands as a poignant reminder of a species lost. The last Passenger Pigeon died in 1914. Think of it billions of birds gone.
McGrain’s Passenger Pigeon is not a realistic portrayal. It’s more abstract. It’s about presence and absence. The sculpture’s size is meant to evoke sympathy. It’s as tall as a human. This promotes empathy. People are encouraged to touch it. Touch is how we connect with the world.
The Smithsonian Institution houses this sculpture. It’s in the Urban Habitat Garden. This is at the National Museum of Natural History. Other Lost Bird sculptures are nearby. They are in the Enid A Haupt Garden. They depict other extinct birds. These include the Carolina Parakeet the Labrador Duck the Great Auk and the Heath Hen.
These birds are largely unknown. Forgetting them is a kind of extinction. These sculptures are meant to help people remember. They are subtle hopeful reminders. They invite us to learn more. The Passenger Pigeon sculpture is a permanent installation. The others were temporarily exhibited. They were there until March 15 2015.
So stand here. Feel the bronze coolness of the Passenger Pigeon. Consider this beautiful bird. Consider the billions of its kind lost. Let this sculpture inspire you to learn more about these lost birds. Let’s remember. Let’s not forget.