Driving from the Riverside Bridge to downtown Hoquiam you may have noticed a beautiful new mural featuring “Our Backyard Birds” on the 6th Street side of 605 Simpson Ave.

Sponsored by Grays Harbor Audubon Society, this was designed and painted by mural artist Jenny Fisher. On Oct. 30, Grays Harbor Audubon Society celebrated the completion of the mural, during a break in the clouds.

Grays Harbor Audubon Society President Janet Strong welcomed the attendees and gave a brief description of the process in producing this mural. Hoquiam Mayor Ben Winkelman congratulated Grays Harbor Audubon Society for this project that enhances downtown Hoquiam. He pointed out that it is visible from Lincoln Street.

The building’s owner, Mark Swanson, was instrumental in getting the project going and was assisted by Scott Reynvaan. Swanson counts this mural as the fourth he has sponsored in the community with the others being on Swanson’s grocery buildings.

Artist Jenny Fisher described her process in designing and painting the wall. She took attendees on a “tour” of the wall recounting comments from passersby while she was painting it. Fisher was assisted by artist Craig Roffler who painted one of the birds. This was his first experience at mural painting.

In August 2021, the Grays Harbor Audubon Society began discussing having a mural featuring birds somewhere in Hoquiam. Linda Orgel and Mary Lou Gregory began investigating the possibilities. Members looked for appropriate walls. Also, they talked about what kinds of birds to feature. One option was the shorebirds who visit our area and are the centerpiece for the Shorebird Festival.

Most murals in Grays Harbor have been painted by two wonderful muralists: Douglas Orr and Fisher. Both have enhanced the walls of buildings in Aberdeen and Hoquiam with remarkable murals. Since Fisher has often featured birds and animals in her art, she was asked if she would be available to paint this mural.

Grays Harbor Audubon Society members generated a list of 20 backyard birds to be depicted and Fisher turned this list into her concept for the mural. All the birds on the mural are about the same size, just as they would be in a bird identification book. The lettering with each bird’s name fits the “personality” of the bird.

Though it has taken three years to work out the details of completing the mural, members of Grays Harbor Audubon Society are pleased with the outcome as both beautiful and instructional. To see it well, stop and park your car so you can walk close to it and see the details.