DEATH ALLEY MURMURATION
Site-specific multichannel video projection, 2023
Death Alley Murmuration is a temporary public light installation responding to Chicago’s devastating rate of migratory bird deaths. With an estimated 200 birds dying each night, Chicago is considered the deadliest city in the U.S. for migratory birds. One of the city’s most dangerous locations is the alley at 71 S. Wacker Drive, nicknamed “Death Alley” by migratory bird advocates. Flanked by a brick building and a wall of glass windows, the alley creates a disorienting wind tunnel that disrupts birds’ navigation, causing fatal collisions or deadly exhaustion.
For this installation, I project overlapping videos of starling murmurations, creating a swirling, immersive vortex that mirrors the disorientation birds experience in this space. Murmurations are fluid, shapeshifting formations of birds that serve as a means of protection, warmth, and communication before nightfall. They are both a stunning visual phenomenon and a vital act of self-preservation.
The primary cause of bird deaths in Chicago is the city’s overwhelming light pollution, particularly blue and white light, which disorients migratory birds. I intentionally use red, orange, and purple light — colors shown to have minimal impact on birds’ navigation. This work grieves the lethal effects of artificial light and urban landscapes while also honoring the beauty and resilience of migratory birds.
For more information:
Block Club Chicago: Up To 200 Birds A Night Die Crashing Into McCormick Place Windows. Turning Off Half The Lights Could Save Them, Study Finds
Cornell Chronicle: Chicago tops list of most dangerous cities for migrating birds
WTTW: Chicago is Most Dangerous City for Migratory Birds, Study Finds
Photos by Scott Burgermeister