Move over Pizza Rat, there’s a new animal star set to make an im-‘peck’-able impression on NYC next month: The pigeon!
The iconic NYC animal will take center stage at the exciting Pigeon Fest soiree on the High Line, hosted by Friends of the High Line.
Pigeon Fest will be held on Saturday, June 14, which happens to be National Pigeon Day. The free event, which will run from noon to 8 p.m., celebrates pigeons, urban ecology and public art, and will take place along 30th Street and the High Line’s Spur — in the shadow of the colossal, lifelike pigeon sculpture known as “Dinosaur.”
There will be plenty of fun events that pigeon lovers of all ages can enjoy, including carnival games, family-friendly art workshops, a concert with the Birdsong Project and a discovery fair.
Contestants will also be able to “wing it” in a pigeon impersonation pageant sure to rival any beauty contest that ever existed.
The feathered festival will bring together artists, musicians, scientists, horticulturalists, activists, educators, and the bird-loving public to explore the intersection of art, nature and city life.
“Pigeons are New York’s unofficial mascot,” said Alan van Capelle, executive director of the Friends of the High Line. “We’ve been awed by the overwhelming response to Iván Argote’s Dinosaur sculpture, and we saw an opportunity to explore urban ecology and the important relationship New Yorkers have with nature and wildlife.”
van Capelle said that even people who find pigeons more of a nuisance than a friend will enjoy the festival.
“Love them or hate them, people are fascinated by our feathered neighbors, and this festival felt like a fitting way to celebrate New Yorkers’ dynamic relationship with art, nature, and, most specifically, pigeons,” he said.
Pigeons usually have gray plumage, but can also be found in other colors. Also, as the ‘rock dove,’ they came to the United States from Europe in the 1800s. Once a domesticated animal, they were extensively in military communications during World War l and prior. Many even received gallantry awards, just like today’s police dogs!
Argote said his pigeon sculpture on 10th Avenue is a tribute to this amazing wildlife species.
“Over time, I’ve realized how much Dinosaur is about empathy,” he said. “This sculpture pays tribute to a humble companion, and in doing so, it challenges our ideas of monumentality and invites us to rethink our relationship with the other species we live alongside. I feel Pigeon Fest will, without a doubt, be a memorable moment in New York—an ‘I was there’ kind of memory.”
What to expect at Bird Fest on the High Line
Zumba: Pigeon Dance Party; 12 p.m.
Strut your stuff during a high-energy Zumba dance class next to Dinosaur.
Mother Pigeon’s Impeckable Puppet Show; 1 p.m.
Mother Pigeon’s Impeckable Puppet Show is based on the real-life adventures of Mother Pigeon, famed Union Square artist and advocate for city wildlife.
Pigeon Impersonation Pageant; 2 p.m.
Contestants will compete for the title of NYC’s Best Pigeon Impersonator.
Panel Discussion: Building Bird-friendly Cities; 3:30 p.m.
How people can make cities more livable for birds and people alike: a lively conversation with experts working at the intersection of policy, ecology, and urban design.
Artist Talk with Iván Argote and Cecilia Alemani; 4:15 p.m.
A conversation on the making of Dinosaur and the role public art plays in city life and civic memory.
Musical Concert, Curated in Collaboration with the Birdsong Project; 5:30 – 8 p.m.
The day culminates in an outdoor concert on the Dinosaur Stage, curated in collaboration with the Birdsong Project.
More information is available at thehighline.org.
