Painted: May 22, 2015
About the Bird: The popularity of feathers in fashion proved almost fatal for Roseate Spoonbills and other large wading birds, which were driven close to extinction by “plume hunters” in the 1890s. Legal protection for these birds was an early success of the Audubon movement. Spoonbills now thrive in shallow wetlands from Texas to Florida, and judging by their broad range in the tropics, they’ll continue to find space in a warming world. Their adaptability to rising temperatures won't protect them from other threats related to climate change, however, including increased spring heat waves and heavy rains, both of which can imperil chicks.
About the Artist: Brooklyn-born painter Danielle Mastrion often combines realism and street feel in her art, which ranges from bright and bold portraits to gritty street scenes. She considered the mural’s locale when painting this Roseate Spoonbill: “156th and Broadway is such a lively, active part of the neighborhood; it's a meeting place, a hang out, an office, and a news station all on one corner. I wanted to make sure the whole corner got love, hence the wraparound painting.”