Tahra Khanuja

A woman with pigeon earrings waited in line to get her face painted. At a nearby table, children crafted pigeon piñatas and drew on pigeon postcards. Representatives from NYC Bird Alliance and the Wild Bird Fund handed out informational fliers. A line formed in front of carnival-inspired games like Pin the Tail on the Pigeon and Ring-A-Wing in which players tried to land a plastic ring on a pigeon silhouette. These were just some of the booths and activities at Pigeon Fest, a day-long festival on Sunday, June 15 at the High Line, which drew a packed crowd, despite the rainy day. The crowd of eager avian admirers represent the growing love for the city's most misunderstood bird; some of the most ardent attendees even care for pigeons every day. RECOMMENDED: A colossal pigeon sculpture has landed on the High Line. Here’s when and how to see it Overseeing it all was "Dinosaur," a hyper-realistic 16-foot pigeon sculpture perched on the elevated park, which served as the inspiration for the event. Since the sculpture's installation in October 2024, High Line official say they have seen an increase in visitation to the park. Photograph: By Timothy Schenck | Courtesy of the High Line "New Yorkers have opinions about everything, but they seem to really be flocking to this particular sculpture," Alan van Capelle, Executive Director of the High Line said. "And we thought, why not have a festival celebrating all things pigeon?" Sharing van Capelle's enthusiasm is Iván Argote, the Colo