YA Eco Mysteries, Memoirs, Novels & Travel
15 November 2015
Birmingham Endangered Species Mural
20/11/15 14:56 Filed in: Environment
As we set out to find the artists working on the watercress darter mural the sun shone down on the city of Birmingham, Alabama rinsed clean by torrential rains the day before. Cruising along 2nd Avenue South, we soon spotted the artists transforming a grey cinderblock wall in to a vibrant mural. Curious to find out more about the project, we parked the car and introduced ourselves.
Local artists Creighton Tynes and Merrily Challis at work on the mural (photo. Boris Datnow)
The Birmingham mural features the watercress darter, a small, brilliantly colored, endangered fish found only in five spring-fed creeks located in the Black Warrior River system flowing through the Birmingham metropolitan area. This endangered species was almost wiped off the planet when a city maintenance crew removed a beaver dam, which drained the spring pool, killing thousands of watercress darters. Fortunately, conservation organizations are working to protect this unique species. Birmingham was selected by the as the site of darter mural because Alabama is a world hotspot for freshwater animal diversity, and the Center is working to protect hundreds of Alabama species from extinction. Read More...
Local artists Creighton Tynes and Merrily Challis at work on the mural (photo. Boris Datnow)
The Birmingham mural features the watercress darter, a small, brilliantly colored, endangered fish found only in five spring-fed creeks located in the Black Warrior River system flowing through the Birmingham metropolitan area. This endangered species was almost wiped off the planet when a city maintenance crew removed a beaver dam, which drained the spring pool, killing thousands of watercress darters. Fortunately, conservation organizations are working to protect this unique species. Birmingham was selected by the as the site of darter mural because Alabama is a world hotspot for freshwater animal diversity, and the Center is working to protect hundreds of Alabama species from extinction. Read More...