Washington -- Urban Bird Habitat

The Urban Bird Habitat borders the west, south, and north sides of the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) in Washington, D.C. Its creation was a collaborative effort between Smithsonian Gardens and NMNH, with funding support from the Smithsonian Women's Committee (SWC). The garden features shrubs, trees and perennials that provide food, shelter and nesting material for birds. It is maintained throughout the year to appeal to both resident and migratory birds.

The garden's initial designs were first conceived in 1999, but the project was suspended in 2001 due to construction and perimeter security installations. The concept was revived in 2010 and given momentum from two SWC grants. Interpretive signs were developed from 2011-2012, and the major garden design and installation occurred from 2011-2013.

The Urban Bird Habitat is home to a large-scale bronze sculpture of a passenger pigeon - one of five statues of extinct birds created by artist Todd McGrain for his outdoor exhibit, 'The Lost Bird Project.' This sculpture and the four others were installed in March 2014 in the Enid A. Haupt Garden for a year-long exhibition. While the other statues were removed, Lost Bird Project executive director Dr. Andrew Stern donated the passenger pigeon sculpture to Smithsonian Gardens. It was dedicated in the Urban Bird Habitat on October 7, 2015, where it remains a permanent installation.

Plantings include blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium), wax myrtle (Morella cerifera), purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), and other plants selected to attract birds.

Persons associated with the garden include: William Donnelly (landscape architect, 2010-2015), Smithsonian Women's Committee (funding donor, 2012 and 2014), Todd McGrain (artist, 2014-2015), and Dr. Andrew Stern (sculpture donor, 2015).