West Village Goes to the Birds
A massive mother pigeon and her flock of lifelike companions have taken over a Manhattan townhouse, transforming it into a remarkable Halloween display. It’s capturing the attention of New Yorkers.
A home on Bethune Street made waves recently thanks to its impressively detailed decorations, especially the giant pigeon peeking out from a second-floor window.
“We take Halloween very seriously,” shared Jessica Dean Schiffer, who’s been brainstorming with her husband since last year.
“In fact, I’ve already started planning for next year,” she added, perhaps a bit prematurely.
The couple really embraced the chance to dive into this project, playing into New York’s evolving sentiment towards pigeons—once dismissed, now, surprisingly, quite beloved.
However, the Schiffers aren’t shy about their thoughts on the matter.
“What could be scarier than a bunch of pigeons? We aim for the spooky vibe, and a flock of pigeons definitely adds to that,” they said, leaning into the Halloween spirit.
They’ve even crafted costumes to match their West Village theme; Dean plans to dress as the Pigeon Lady from “Home Alone 2,” while their dog will join her as part of the feathered crew. Rob, her husband, will take on the role of “the person who had a rather unfortunate encounter with a pigeon.”
To animate this flock, the couple collaborated with Karl Talent, a Broadway set designer, and his partner Cristian González.
“It’s very much a New York concept,” Talent remarked, recalling how they initially discussed more violent themes before settling on just pigeons.
The project was extensive, taking weeks to assemble in their Washington Heights apartment, primarily due to the giant mother pigeons.
Tallent shared that the foam head alone weighs about 15 pounds, artfully covered in feathers and supported by a wooden structure.
The couple opted not to drill into the building, securing the pieces with tension rods, a smart choice considering the recent nor’easter that swept through the city.
Surrounding their house are around 80 to 100 realistic-looking pigeons made from hunting decoys, feathered toys, and cardboard cutouts.
“I even had some items I ordered from China that never showed up!” the entertainer chuckled.
“It was a blast. Everyone involved was incredibly supportive and enthusiastic about our ideas—it was genuinely fun,” Jessica noted.
This creative display has attracted quite a bit of online attention, with many curious visitors stopping by to take in the delightful oddity.
“I’ve never encountered anything so quintessentially New York,” remarked one Instagram user.
Another called it a “house of horrors,” while a third humorously speculated that it “must be an MTA building.”
What happens to Mama Pigeon and her chicks post-Halloween remains uncertain, but Tallent has floated the idea of giving them to New York pigeon enthusiasts.
