Migratory Pathways

Artist: George Booruyi Year: 2024 Curated by: Audubon Mural Project Sponsored by: Red Hook conservancy.

Welcome to the mural at Red Hook Park. What you're looking at stretches nearly 1,000 feet — a vibrant procession of birds in motion, painted along the retaining wall. This project was sponsored by the Red Hook Conservancy and curated by the Audubon Mural Project, which invited Brooklyn-based artist George Boorujy to bring it to life. For Boorujy, who lives nearby in Gowanus and has been swimming at the pool across the street for years, the mural’s long, low surface immediately brought to mind the sweeping flights of migrating birds. “I wanted to use the length of this site to show the length of these migration journeys,” he explains. The mural features eight bird species, each traveling different distances to New York—some stopping just briefly, others nesting here. The birds are arranged by the length of their migrations—from the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, which comes all the way from Venezuela, to the Eastern Meadowlark, a short traveler from New Jersey. Between each pair of birds, you’ll see flying silhouettes over bright colors—turquoise, pink, orange—with the names of the places they travel through. To Boorujy, these birds echo the stories of the people who live here. “We all come from somewhere,” he says. “We all have migrated to survive, on some level.” But no matter where they’re coming from, birds need green spaces in the city—places to rest and refuel. That’s why you’ll also find eight native plant species woven into the mural, including Black-eyed Susan, Canada Goldenrod, and Lowbush Blueberry—all essential food sources for birds like the Great-crested Flycatcher, which Boorujy painted mid-snap, munching on a wasp. Each pair of birds tells its own story. Some are meant to catch your eye—like the Grosbeak and Flycatcher. Others invite a second glance: the Philadelphia Vireo and Yellow-throated Vireo are like little twins, similar at first glance but distinct in detail. The Yellow-rumped Warbler, full of energy, looks out over the more low-key Worm-eating Warbler, which Boorujy calls “subtle and sophisticated.”. And at the far end, the Eastern Towhee sings its loud call, while the Meadowlark stares boldly at the viewer. But beneath their beauty lies a warning. Climate change threatens every species on this wall. According to Audubon’s Survival by Degrees report, the Eastern Towhee could lose more than 80% of the places it lives in summer if the climate keeps warming. The Yellow-throated Vireo faces the opposite problem—it could lose most of the places it spends the winter. That’s why protecting birds isn’t just about where they nest or feed—it’s about protecting every stop they make along the way.’ As both artist and educator, Boorujy bridges science and art. He originally planned to be a marine biologist, but found his calling in painting wildlife—something he’s loved since childhood. He teaches at the School of Visual Arts, where he leads classes in drawing, anatomy, and bio art. His work, including several pieces with the Audubon Mural Project, reminds us: we’re not separate from nature—we’re part of it. And maybe, just like these birds, we’re all navigating the same sky—searching for safe ground, and learning how to protect it.