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Olympic Village birds return to roost

Just in time for the 27th International Ornithological Congress and the inaugural Vancouver International Bird Festival Aug. 19-26
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The giant sparrows returned to Olympic Village Tuesday morning. Photo Jessica Kerr

They’re back. After nine months away Olympic Village’s resident birds returned home Tuesday morning.

The Birds by artist Myfanwy MacLeod was first installed in 2010 after the Winter Olympics. The sculpture had to be removed back in November for repairs — the pair of giant sparrows was showing signs of severe damage due to the weather as well as people climbing, riding bikes and skateboarding on large sections of the birds.

Eric Fredericksen, public art program manager for the City of Vancouver, said the sculptures, which were originally made of foam with a hard shell, were first sent to Calgary where they made moulds of the originals. The moulds were then sent to a foundry in China where the sculptures were cast in aluminum before being sent back to Calgary for painting.

Fredericksen said the foundry in China was chosen for the project due to the size of the sculptures and the timing — there are only so many foundries that could accommodate the job. There is one in Washington state the city has worked with in the past but it was booked up. The city wanted to have the sculpture back in time for the 27th International Ornithological Congress and the inaugural Vancouver International Bird Festival, which are set to take over the city Aug. 19 to 26.

The cost of removing, rebuilding and reinstalling the sculptures is expected to come in under $400,000, original estimates pegged the cost at around $425,000. The money is coming from a reserve fund previously set up for maintenance of public art.

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To celebrate the congress, the reinstallation of The Birds is joined by another project by MacLeod in partnership with the Contemporary Art Gallery. From Aug. 13 to Sept. 3 a series of posters featuring birds called Neighbours will be displayed throughout the city in transit shelters. The posters are a part of the gallery’s series examining human’s relationship with, and impact on, the natural world.

“This year is the 100th anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act,” MacLeod said. “I’m thrilled The Birds and my new project Neighbours will be installed in time to celebrate this environmental milestone, as well as the opening of the IOC 2018.”

Now that The Birds is back, the city is asking the public to stay off.

“The City understands that The Birds is beloved by Vancouverites but discourages climbing on the newly upgraded artwork to ensure it remains in place as long as possible,” the city said in a statement.

@JessicaEKerr

jkerr@vancourier.com