Not Just a Bird. It’s a Reminder.

I used to think I was making art.

Cutting birds out of steel, shaping them by hand, climbing a ladder and hammering them onto lampposts around Auckland. It started as a bit of mischief, really... a way to bring a smile or spark a thought while people waited for the bus or walked the dog.

But then something happened.

People started telling me why they’d stopped under a lamppost to look up at a bird silhouette. And it wasn’t just because it looked cool against the sky.

It was because it reminded them of someone.

Why Birds Mean More Than We Realise

There’s this thing about birds. They’re everywhere, but they’re also fleeting. You spot one, and in the next breath it’s gone. Kind of like life, really.

That’s why, over and over, people choose our bestselling Metalbird... the Robin... as a memorial.

Now, we make other birds too. Fantails, Tūīs, Hummingbirds, Cardinals, Blackbirds. But the Robin? That one gets picked more than any other when someone’s looking for a meaningful memorial gift.

In New Zealand, a Robin is thought to be a visitor from the spirit world. In the UK, “when robins appear, loved ones are near.” And in North America, the first Robin of spring is seen as a sign of renewal and hope after loss.

It’s a little bird, but it carries a lot.

The Robin in Grief Traditions

It’s not just modern folklore that gives birds this role. Look back far enough, and nearly every culture has some story of birds as messengers between worlds.

In Celtic myths, birds were seen as souls in flight... guides between life and death. The Māori have the Piwakawaka (fantail), which sometimes signals a visitor from the spirit world. In Japan, cranes represent long life and peace. And in the US, the red cardinal is often called the “grief bird”... a sign that someone you love is still close by.

But the Robin? It’s become a kind of universal shorthand for remembrance. Maybe because it’s small but gutsy. Maybe because it shows up when you’re least expecting it. Maybe because seeing a flash of red breast in the garden feels like a little hello from the other side.

When Grief Shows Up in the Garden

I’ve had more emails than I can count from people who’ve hammered a Robin into the backyard after losing someone.

One woman told me she put a Robin by the lemon tree where her mum used to sit with a cuppa. Now, every time she looks out the kitchen window, there it is... patinaed a bit, weathering like we all do... but still there. A small, steady reminder.

Another bloke said he got one for his dad’s favourite fishing spot. “Dad never wanted a headstone,” he wrote. “But he would’ve liked this.”

That’s the thing about grief. It doesn’t ask for permission. It shows up when it wants... sometimes in tears, sometimes in the middle of making a sandwich. And when it does, it helps to have a quiet place to put it.

A bird in the garden can be that place.

Why It Matters

We’re not the only ones making memorial art. You can get plaques, benches, urns, even tattoo your loved one’s face on your calf if you’re that way inclined.

But a Metalbird memorial is different. It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t fade away in a drawer or get dusty on a shelf. It’s out there in the elements... changing with the seasons, developing a protective patina that catches the light and holds space.

It’s not just a bird. It’s a reminder.

A reminder that love doesn’t leave when someone dies. It sticks around in the small, ordinary moments. Morning coffee. Backyard breezes. The sound of birdsong at dusk.

Why the Robin?

If you’re wondering why the Robin keeps getting chosen for memorials, here’s the short answer:

It’s personal.

The Robin shows up in folklore, in poems, in backyard stories. It’s small but bold. It’s common but special. It’s the bird that lands close and looks you right in the eye, like it knows something you don’t.

People see Robins and think of someone they miss. It’s as simple... and as complicated... as that.

What Customers Tell Us

Here’s what people say when they buy a Robin from us:

• “It’s for Mum. She loved Robins.”

• “I wanted something for Dad’s garden.”

• “My sister’s just gone through a loss... I didn’t know what to send.”

• “This will last longer than flowers.”

It’s never just about the bird. It’s about what the bird represents

Your Own Backyard Tribute

If you’re looking for a gentle memorial gift, or just want a way to keep someone’s memory close, the Robin might be the bird for you. Or maybe there’s another one that speaks louder... a Cardinal for your mum in Chicago, a Tūī for your mate in Wellington, a Blackbird for that friend who always sang in the car.

Whatever you choose, make it yours.

Want to create your own backyard tribute? Find your bird here.