“Dinosaur,” a 21-foot-pigeon, overlooking the High Line.
Rendering courtesy of Iván Argote
“Dinosaur,” the 17-foot-tall aluminum pigeon that has perched on Manhattan’s High Line since October 2024, may soon fly the nest, much to the dismay of many New Yorkers.
High Line officials plan to push the steel-feathered friend out of the nest next month, but a petition to keep him in place has been going strong in recent weeks. It has more than 5,500 signatures.
“Dinosaur” was designed by Iván Argote for the High Line’s Plinth, a place on the elevated park dedicated to a temporary, rotating series of art pieces.
But bird enthusiasts want the massive metal avian to rule the roost permanently–or at least enjoy an extended stay.
“Removing the sculpture would eliminate a piece of art that has already become deeply meaningful to the community in a short period of time,” the petition reads.
The band of bird lovers has actively called on city officials to leave the statue in place. They said they would even accept an extension of the installation if a permanent residence is not feasible.
“We call on the High Line, NYC Parks, and relevant partners to work collaboratively with the artist to extend the installation or to designate the pigeon sculpture as a permanent public artwork,” the pro-pigeon petition read.
amNewYork contacted NYC Parks and the Friends of the High Line, an organization that helps the city maintain the elevated green space, to ask about next steps for “Dinosaur” in response to the petition and is awaiting responses.
Maureen Seaberg, an author, National Geographic contributor, and avid bird watcher, shared her thoughts on the history and biology of pigeons, animals that have come to be iconic symbols of New York City.
“Prior to the French Revolution, only aristocrats kept pigeons. It’s not their fault we domesticated, then abandoned them,” she said. “They are sweet and gorgeous up close.”
A pigeon in NYC.Photo by Maureen Seaberg
The pigeon statue is scheduled to leave the High Line in early April. A towering 27-foot-tall statue of Buddha will replace “Dinosaur.”
Named “The Light That Shines Through the Universe,” the colossal figure will be positioned in the park over the intersection of 10th Avenue and 30th Street, where Plinth installations typically go.
The statue is made of sandstone and is a tribute to the monumental Bamiyan Buddha sculptures made more than a millennium ago on a cliff in Afghanistan. The massive sculptures were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001.
“The Light That Shines Through the Universe” was carved in Vietnam by artist Tuan Andrew Nguyen and is scheduled to remain on view at the High Line for 18 months.