When someone you love is gone, the world keeps turning.
But certain places don’t feel the same anymore.
The garden chair they always sat in. The walking track they loved. The kitchen window they watched the birds from.
That’s where memory lives now... in the quiet corners of daily life.
And that’s where a Metalbird often ends up.
A Global Flock of Tribute Birds
We started noticing something early on:
People weren’t just buying Metalbirds for garden art.
They were buying them for memory.
For tributes. For quiet moments. For the people they still miss, every day.
We asked our customers to tell us who they placed their bird for, and why.
Here’s what they shared.
For Mum, Who Loved Tūīs
"Mum’s favourite bird was the Tūī. We planted one in her memory garden. Now there’s a real Tūī that comes to the flax every morning... and the steel one catching the light right beside it." – Anna, Auckland
For Dad, Who Built the Fence
"Dad built the back fence by hand. After he passed, I hammered a Fantail onto one of the posts. It’s his fence, his bird now. Makes me smile every time I see it." – Mike, Wellington
For Our Daughter, Always Moving Forward
"Our daughter passed far too young. She loved travel and change and new beginnings. We chose a Swallow for her... it felt right. It’s on the deck where she used to sit." – Sarah and Tom, Sydney
For Nana, Who Fed the Birds
"Nana’s kitchen window was her favourite place. She’d sit with a cuppa and watch the birds. We gave her a Metalbird Robin years ago. After she passed, we left it there. It’s still catching the sunrise." – Lisa, Edinburgh
For My Mate, Gone Too Soon
"My best mate and I used to go camping and spot birds. After he died, I put a Kingfisher on the fence at the bach. It’s a way of saying, ‘You’re still here, bro.’" – Dave, Tauranga
For the One Who Loved Quiet Mornings
"We gave a Metalbird Cardinal to Mum after Dad passed. Cardinals are said to visit when someone’s thinking of you. Now there’s one on the garden fence, its protective patina glowing quietly, just like life does." – Emily, Toronto
For Ourselves, After a Hard Year
"We lost three people in one year. Instead of a plaque or something formal, we planted birds around the property. A Heron by the pond. A Swallow near the gate. They hold the grief quietly." – Brian and Louise, Melbourne
Why It Matters
People use Metalbirds as memory markers because:
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They’re gentle, not heavy.
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They stay in the landscape, changing with time.
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They’re a way to say, “I remember you,” without needing a speech.
Patina as a Reminder
All our birds are made from Corten steel, so they develop a protective patina.
That patina is part of the tribute.
It says:
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Time is passing.
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Love is still here.
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Grief softens but doesn’t disappear.
The bird becomes part of the place, just like the person you’re remembering becomes part of you.
Where People Place Them
We’ve heard of birds being placed:
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In gardens, by favourite plants
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On farm gates, overlooking paddocks
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In community spaces where memories are shared
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On balconies, for quiet morning coffee moments
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By windows, so the silhouette greets you every day
It’s not about big gestures. It’s about daily connection.
It’s For More Than One Moment
Flowers fade. Candles burn down. Cards get tucked away.
But a bird stays.
It develops patina with the weather.
It changes with the seasons.
It reminds you, quietly, of who you’re thinking of.
No Rules, Just Memory
Some people install their bird alone.
Some do it with family, on a special day.
Some add a note. Some don’t say a word.
There’s no right way to mark a memory.
That’s the point.
Want to Mark a Memory?
If there’s someone you miss, and you’re looking for a quiet way to keep them close, a Metalbird might be the way.
It’s:
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Not a shrine
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Not a ceremony
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Just a moment of meaning in your everyday space
Find your memorial bird here.
Suggested Image:
A montage of real customer images... birds installed in memory gardens, silhouetted at dusk, perched on fences in rain and sun. Pair it with snippets of the quotes above. Keep it honest and unpolished... real people, real places, real memory.