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Listen to the birds in this mural!

Painted: 6/13/2025

About the Mural: In this mural created by artist Kristy McCarthy (aka D. Gale), a Great Crested Flycatcher and Yellow-rumped Warbler stand out against a richly colored background lush with native plants such as black-eyed Susan, butterfly milkweed, and New York fern. As part of the �ԹϺ��� Mural Project—a public-art initiative drawing attention to birds that are vulnerable to extinction from climate change—NYC Parks’ Art in the Parks program and NYC Parks GreenThumb worked with the �ԹϺ���, Gitler &_____ Gallery, and local artists to design murals in community gardens across the city. Through a collaborative process between the partners, artist, and garden group, each mural was designed to feature climate-threatened birds as well as native plants that birds depend on for food and shelter. By creating vibrant urban green spaces, community gardeners provide essential support for birds and people. Explore more murals from the collaboration here.

This mural was created with , a community garden in Melrose bursting with color. Artist McCarthy shares that she was heavily pregnant while working on this mural. Though painting was more of a challenge than usual, “it was really heartwarming to have so much support and encouragement from the community,” she says.

About the Birds: The Great Crested Flycatcher is a large flycatcher that swoops through Eastern forests in search of insect prey. It’s identifiable by its brightly colored accents—including a yellow belly, clear gray chest, and reddish-brown wings—as well as its buzzy, rolling calls. Meanwhile, the Yellow-rumped Warbler is a familiar sight across the continent, flashing its distinctive yellow patch and letting out sharp chek calls as it flies through conifer forests.

Both of these species have stable populations today. But a changing climate poses threats: If warming continues at its current pace, both birds are projected to lose more than a third of their current summer ranges, according to �ԹϺ���’s Survival By Degrees report. Taking action to limit warming can help ensure these birds can thrive across wider swaths of habitat. Plus, maintaining pockets of green space like community gardens, and filling them with native plants, can offer birds the spaces they need to rest and refuel.

About the Artist: , who paints under the name D. Gale, is a professional muralist, teaching artist, and community organizer based in East Harlem. She utilizes art as a powerful tool to build community, raise awareness about social and environmental justice issues, and heal collective trauma. As a trauma-informed teaching artist, she has led various collaborative mural projects with youth, seniors, and adults living with mental health conditions, partnering with NGOs and institutions such as Groundswell, Thrive Collective, and the New York Department of Health. She is a founding member of the Harlem Art Collective and co-producer of Fiesta de Colores, a socially engaged art festival that takes place annually in Ecuador. She is currently working towards her PhD in Environmental Psychology, researching the political ecology of murals.

McCarthy has previously painted works for the �ԹϺ��� Mural Project as well, including grate paintings in Hamilton Heights that featured a Calliope Woodpecker, Glossy Ibis, and Lewis’s Woodpecker. For her garden mural, McCarthy says she was drawn to species with bright colors and beautiful songs. “I hope this mural brings people joy and a sense of awe at the beauty of nature,” the artist says. “My hope is for the mural to brighten people's day and to raise awareness about the endangerment of these birds.”