“The 66 Birds/3 Degrees project is a visual and sound environment of western Washington state birds that are at risk if global warming is not mitigated. I first conceived of the project after seeing the publication “Survival By Degrees: 389 Bird Species on the Brink” by the National Audubon Society. This study assesses the impact of climate warming at up to 3 degrees Celsius on North American bird species. With the intention of using birds to make a visceral impact about the consequences of global warming, I refined a list of western Washington birds identified as at risk in the Audubon study and birds listed as endangered or threatened by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. I determined to paint the birds with a neutral plain background in a portrait style. Each bird is looking the viewer in the eye, and 3° is silkscreened somewhere on the canvas—I was aiming for a confrontation, one in which the bird is not sentimentalized nor anthropomorphized, but respected. Paintings are accompanied by a motion sensor device playing the bird’s song. I enlisted the help of Dr. John Bower, who wrote the text about each bird in the display using the Audubon study and his extensive knowledge of northwest birds. A diverse set of at-risk birds were chosen, with species representing forest, grassland, montane, freshwater, and marine habitats. In our choices, well-known and common species were favoured over transient or rare birds, as the intention of the project is to make an impact on the viewer through what is familiar, known, and possibly deeply felt.”
-Natalie Niblack
Pine Grosbeak and Red Crossbill, left to right, pictured above. Oil on linen, 18×18″ 2023.
66 Birds/3 Degrees will open for previews starting August 21st, with a full opening August 28th, 2025. Events with the artist and guests are planned for October 16th and the show will run until December 31st.