Through a partnership between a local art camp and the Audubon Mural Project, students crafted a series of works shedding light on climate-threatened species.

Wood Duck, Northern Flicker, and Blue-winged Warbler. Photo: Jennifer Kuroda

In Rockford, Illinois, a group of students has brought a colorful aviary of bird art to life—piece by tiny piece.

Each year, artist Susan Burton leads SPARK! Mosaic, a free summer program for local students to learn art skills and create their own mosaic works. “My favorite part is always watching kids who say, ‘I’m not an artist,’ slowly forget they ever believed that,” Burton says.

During the 2025 session, the students’ creations homed in on a central theme: birds. That’s thanks to Jennifer Kuroda, president of Sinnissippi Audubon, who has partnered with the Audubon Mural Project on a number of other public art projects across northern Illinois . Kuroda, whose daughter had previously attended and worked at the SPARK!…