Yellow Warbler by Kristy McCarthy

Listen to the bird in this mural!

Painted: 6/13/2025

About the Mural: This mural, created by artist Kristy McCarthy (aka D. Gale), spotlights a family of Yellow Warblers among bursts of native plants: field thistle, butterfly milkweed, common blue violet, and eastern redbud. 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.

The mural was created with Melrose New Generation Community Garden, a stretch of green space in the Bronx. 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—including from the garden leader, Michelle, who was also pregnant at the time. “It was really special to share that experience with her,” McCarthy says.

About the Bird: The Yellow Warbler’s brilliant plumage and sweet, bright song are easy to pick out from woodlands, stream edges, and thickets. One of the most widely distributed warblers, this species builds its cup-shaped nests from the Arctic Circle all the way to Mexico. 

Its current populations are thought to be stable, but a changing climate poses threats for this familiar warbler. If warming continues at its current page, the species is projected to lose 41 percent of its wide summer range, according to Audubon’s Survival By Degrees report. Taking action to limit warming can help Yellow Warblers continue to thrive across broader swaths of habitat. Meanwhile, maintaining patches of green space like community gardens, and filling them with native plants, can help ensure the birds have the places they need to rest and fuel up on tasty insects.

About the Artist: Kristy McCarthy, 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 Audubon Mural Project on storefront gates in Hamilton Heights. For her garden mural, she says she was drawn to the Yellow Warbler because of its bright color and beautiful song. “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.”