It's Just a Pigeon... So Why Are 7,000 New Yorkers Fighting to Keep It?
Hi friends,
This week I found myself writing and surprisingly advocating for a 17 ft tall, 2,000 lb aluminum pigeon named Dinosaur perched on the high line.
Link to Story:
Mary Mayo
Created by Colombian artist Ivan Agorte, the giant bird has been delighting and dividing visitors since it landed there in late '24. Its time is unfortunately limited, as it is a rotating 18 month exhibition.
However, dismay towards Dinosaur's looming departure definitely has not gone unnoticed. Just last week, it was thrown a farewell party with DJs, pigeon trivia, and limited edition posters. Over 7,000 New Yorkers have signed a change.org petition asking to make it a permanent fixture because, in the words of one fan, it is "very New York."
So I have been left to figure out: what is so special about a pigeon?
The Highlines rotating art program makes a lot of sense in theory. It keeps things fresh, gives more artists a platform, and brings new perspectives to this beloved public space, but "Dinosaur" has sparked something extra. People aren't just walking by; they're stopping, smiling, taking photos, throwing parties, and now actively organizing to keep it. In a city that can often feel fresh and impersonal, this oversized bird has become a genuine point of joy and connection.
That raises a bigger question. When a piece of art clearly resonates with thousands of regular New Yorkers, should community desire carry more weight than the original rotation schedule, or does the plan always win even when something is working this well?
I don't have a tidy answer. Curatorial vision and structure matter, especially for a program like The Plinth, but moments like this make me pause and think that maybe what the community actually loves deserves a louder voice.
I had to get quotes for this week's story. As much as I hate to admit it, no matter how many times I have to talk to people on the street, I always end up with this overwhelming sense of nervousness.
Fear of rejection is sneaky like that. It shows up for the big things and the small ones alike. I second guess whether a story about a pigeon was serious enough or worth covering at all, or if people would even have anything to say. Then I realized it's just a pigeon, and that's exactly why it matters.
Dinosaur reminds us to look again at the everyday, the overlooked, the resilient, the slightly ridiculous, and find beauty in it. If thousands of New Yorkers can rally around a giant metal bird, I know there are at least two people who would be happy to talk about it.
On another note, go visit Dinosaur while you still can. Sign the petition if the bird speaks to you, and maybe give a little nod to the regular size pigeon on your walk home.
Until later,
-Mary
lovingly preserving life's leftovers in TheMayoJar.
