PAY THE BILL

Avicide, the killing of birds, is a much bigger issue than most people are aware of or even know about. Over 20,000,000,000 birds are killed worldwide annually, whether intentionally or accidentally, which is a major threat to global biodiversity. While some cases involve deliberate harm, such as poisoning or hunting, most avicide results from indirect human activities like habitat destruction, pollution, window and turbine collisions, pesticide use, and the introduction of predators.

Since my birth year in 2001, at least nine bird species have been officially declared extinct, with several others presumed extinct due to the lack of sightings over an extended period. These extinctions have predominantly occurred in island ecosystems or isolated habitats, where species are particularly vulnerable to threats such as habitat destruction, invasive species, disease, and climate change. Currently, over 230 bird species are classified as Critically Endangered, indicating they face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. The ongoing loss of avian biodiversity highlights the importance of conservation efforts to protect remaining species and their habitats. Extinction should no longer occur, especially since we understand more than ever how vital every being is for a healthy and balanced ecosystem.

Advocating for birds is crucial because they play a key role in maintaining ecological health. Birds pollinate plants, disperse seeds, control insect populations, and support biodiversity. Their presence indicates the overall health of an environment, reflecting ecological balance or decline.

Birds also hold cultural, aesthetic, and emotional significance for many people. Their songs, colours, and behaviours inspire art, science, and spiritual connections around the world. Protecting birds means safeguarding the ecosystems on which we all depend.

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I consider this piece the summary and ‘essence’ of my graduation collection. A direct statement of confrontation and requesting change. It is time to ‘pay the bill’ for our gruesome acts towards birds; ‘bill’ also directly refers to birds as it is a synonym for beak, a key characteristic of theirs. The best way to ‘make it up’ to them is by change and due regard. All of this begins with awareness and interest; activism is one method to achieve that. Through my pieces, I seek to offer a deeper understanding and breadth of avicide, illustrating that it is all around us and that it lies in our hands.

The piece is structured like a receipt from a grocery shop, listing all the products purchased and their price, but instead, I have listed all of my pieces from my collection with their retail price. All of them narrate different forms of avicide, and all of them require change and due regard.

Essentially, I am confronting the viewer and urging them to initiate change directly. Every single word and number carries significance. For instance, the number 4 appears multiple times as it symbolises death in various cultures. The other numbers represent the date my final collection will be/was submitted.

The QR code leads to my Instagram, while the incorporated website link leads to the RSPB website, the UK’s largest nature conservation charity. A good place to start if you want to help birds.

This is my bill to the public. It is time for change and awareness on the matter and severity of avicide.