Seattle’s Urban Birds Take Flight in Our Expanded Mural

Photo courtesy of Birds Connect Seattle Staff

For the past year, Tori Shao’s bird mural has been one of the first things to greet visitors as they step into our downtown space. From the colorful salmonberry bush to the American Bittern keeping watch, each detail has brought a little piece of Seattle’s vibrant nature into our shop.

So when Tori returned to our space to continue her work, we were thrilled to watch the mural take flight once again. Her artwork has become such a beloved part of our new downtown nest, and we’re excited to give you a behind-the-scenes look at how Tori’s vision continues to bring the birds and plants of our city to life at Birds Connect Seattle.

Photo courtesy of Birds Connect Seattle Staff

As an avid birder herself, Tori worked closely with the Birds Connect Seattle team to dream up how the mural could grow while building on the story already taking shape across the wall. The first section celebrates the thriving ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest, weaving together familiar elements like sword ferns and Swainson’s Thrushes with a myriad of hidden birds waiting to be discovered in silhouette. Read more about how the initial project started here.

Initial mock-up of the addition

For the mural’s new addition, Tori and the Birds Connect Seattle team turned their attention closer to home, highlighting some of the birds that can be spotted right here in Seattle’s neighborhoods. The Northern Flicker, a familiar backyard woodpecker, is perched among a grove of Quaking Aspens, while the Double-crested Cormorant joins the scene as a species often spotted along the city’s expansive waterfront. Taking flight in the center, a Peregrine Falcon is featured as a special raptor resident of downtown, with one nest located just a few blocks from the Birds Connect Seattle office. Right above our bird specimen cabinets, a Rufous Hummingbird can be seen taking a sip from a native Orange Honeysuckle, a species that thrives throughout the Seattle area.

Tori Shao painting a Northern Flicker

Tori spent Labor Day weekend transforming the remaining blank walls of our shop space into a beautifully complete birding mural. Inspired by the connections between people, place, and the natural world, her work often draws on Washington’s diverse flora and fauna, bringing them to life through vibrant, immersive designs. Each day, she layered in new details, from the unique characteristics of each bird to the plants that surround them, slowly bringing the scene to life.

Photo courtesy of Birds Connect Seattle Staff

We couldn’t be more pleased with how Tori’s vision came to life across our shop walls. Through her thoughtful attention to the unique details of each species, she has created a mural that celebrates the birds and natural spaces that make Seattle home.

We’re excited to welcome visitors into this newly transformed space and hope the mural inspires everyone who walks through our doors to look a little closer at the wild neighbors taking flight around our city.

To see more of Tori Shao’s art, check out her website or follow her on Instagram @torikinn.