Chestnut-sided Warbler by Andrea Amanda

Listen to the bird in this mural!

Painted: 8/21/2025

About the Mural: This mural by artist Andrea Amanda follows the journey of the Chestnut-sided Warbler through the seasons, accompanied by a series native plants. On one side of the shed, a juvenile warbler perches beneath a blooming red columbine. Then, the bird flies through a background of fiery Canada lily—eventually appearing in its vibrant adult plumage next to a bold black-eyed Susan.

As part of the Audubon 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 National Audubon Society, 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 Bronx Sunshine Garden, a green space and community hub in Melrose. For more than 12 years, the garden has distributed produce to fight food insecurity, hosted workshops, and offered a place for neighbors to connect with nature and each other, says garden leader Maritza Rivera. “I hope that when people see this mural, they feel joy, curiosity, and inspiration,” she says. “I want them to see the Bronx not just as a city of buildings, but as a place alive with nature, community, and hope.”

About the Bird: The slender Chestnut-sided Warbler—with its crisp yellow cap, brownish-red sides, and jaunty tail—is a common sight in leafy young forests and thickets. The bird sings out a rich, musical song, sometimes interpreted as very very pleased to meet cha!, as it hops around small trees and shrubs in search of insects.

This species likely benefited from forest cutting in the 19th century, as it prefers second-growth woods and open clearings. However, its populations appear to have declined in recent decades, and a changing climate poses further threats: The Chestnut-sided Warbler is set to be pushed out of all of its current summer range if warming continues at its current pace, according to Audubon’s Survival By Degrees report. Taking action to limit warming can help allow these warblers to thrive across a wider spread of habitats. Meanwhile, maintaining pockets of green space like community gardens—and populating them with native plants—can help offer essential spaces for the birds to rest and refuel.

About the Artist: Andrea Amanda is a New York City-based artist originally from Venezuela. Since moving to New York, she’s worked across a wide range of projects, such as illustrating a history book and a children’s book, working as an art director for music videos, animating a short film by hand, and painting murals. Her ongoing projects include Deconstruction of Words, which explores hidden messages in abstract layers, and Pandemic Portraits, which documents her long-distance friendships.

Through her garden mural, which incorporates handwritten field notes (“chestnut flanks,” “white belly,” “yellow crown,”) the artist hopes to inspire the curiosity and attention inherent in birdwatching. “The mural is designed to move the eye, inviting passersby to follow the bird’s migration and transformation through the seasons,” Amanda says. “This playful and informative mural fosters a sense of connection between the local community and the dynamic ecosystems they are part of.”