White-crowned Sparrow by Erin Harley

Listen to the bird in this mural!

Painted: 9/24/2025

About the Mural: In this mural by artist Erin Harley, White-crowned Sparrows perch and flit around a landscape full of native plants: sweet goldenrod, flowering dogwood, and blueberry shrubs. 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 Pleasant Village Community Garden in East Harlem, one of the largest and oldest community gardens in Manhattan. “It’s not just a garden; it’s a hub of community activity and education, fostering a sense of belonging and environmental stewardship for people of all backgrounds,” shares garden president Kim Yim. She hopes the new mural, which brings in elements of the local ecosystem, is a reminder to protect the rich biodiversity all around us. “It’s a visual celebration of our community’s commitment to sustainability and the interconnectedness of all living things,” Yim says.

About the Bird: The White-crowned Sparrow serves up a smart look with its crisp black-and-white head and gray breast. In the winter, these birds can be spotted across much of the United States, moving around in flocks and hopping along to forage for seeds in fields, roadsides, or yards. Its song, a series of whistles and buzzy notes, gets filtered through different “dialects” based on the region.

Though it’s widespread today, this familiar sparrow faces threats from a changing climate: If warming continues at its current pace, the species is projected to lose 78 percent of its current summer range, according to Audubon’s Survival By Degrees report. Taking action to limit warming can help ensure these birds can thrive across a wider range of habitats. Meanwhile, maintaining pockets of green space like community gardens—and populating them with native plants—offers crucial spaces for the birds to rest and find food.

About the Artist: Erin Harley is an artist based in the Bronx. Though she always loved art and studied graphic design in college, Harley worked as a medical research assistant after graduating. It wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic that Harley decided to pursue her passion for art more seriously, launching a pet portrait business.

While working on this mural, Harley says she felt immediately welcomed in the garden, which is just down the street from her junior high school: “It felt like home,” she says.  From meeting garden members who shared their vegetables with her, to talking with passersby about their passion for birds, the painting process sparked many connections. Harley has even joined as a member of the garden, and emphasizes the value of these green spaces for birds—and people—to refuel. “It’s like you’re being transported into a totally different space,” Harley says. “When you walk in these doors, you’re outside of the city.”