Our Story

Our Story...

FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO A GLOBAL ART PROJECT

Metalbird grew from a New Zealand Street Art Project I started back in 2009.
I created and installed metal bird silhouettes around my neighborhood, just for fun. Amazingly, people felt an instant connection to them, and I was flooded with requests from friends and strangers alike.

It began in a tiny garden shed, and roughly 10 years later Metalbird has become a sprawling global art project. I didn’t see it coming, I’m not sure anyone did, and yet not a day goes by that I’m not profoundly grateful for all of it.

With the simple tap of a hammer, this beautifully crafted, life-like bird silhouette will transform your backyard, garden or environment into a work of art, bringing delight to anyone who encounters it.

Metalbird isn’t just about the birds though. As you’ll see if you scroll down a little further, it’s also about producing locally and ethically, not to mention sustainably. It’s about giving back to the birds that inspire us by supporting bird conservation efforts worldwide. Most recently (and excitingly) we’re working to get B Corp certified, which will qualify us as a business that operates at a highly ethical standard.

We love what we do. We do it the best. We hope it shows.

- Phil Walters, Creator of Metalbird

Made Local: Because Global Starts at Home

We could ship our birds halfway around the world to be made on the cheap. Plenty of businesses do. But we’re not plenty of businesses. We’re Metalbird.

And Metalbird is local.

We make and ship locally in every country we operate in. That means if you’re buying from America, your bird was crafted in American. If you’re in Australia, your bird didn’t take a world tour to get to you, it was made just down the road.

Why? Because keeping it local means jobs stay in the community. It means less carbon burned in transport. It means we can visit our makers, shake their hands, and make sure everything’s done right. It costs more, sure. But some things are worth paying for. Like accountability. Like local pride. Like knowing your bird was made by someone who gives a damn.

Made Sustainable: Because Birds Deserve Better

Let’s be honest. Making metal birds inspired by real native species, while trashing the environment they live in That’s not us.

Sustainability isn’t a buzzword for us, it’s a blueprint.

Our birds are cut from Corten® Steel, which has over 70% recycled content. It's not just any steel either. It's the kind that forms a protective patina over time, a surface rust that seals and protects the bird underneath. It’s a finish that evolves with the seasons but never falls apart.

Every offcut from the manufacturing process? Recycled. Every box we ship
in? Made from recycled cardboard with biodegradable inks. Designed to be
used again, and again, and again.

We don’t take shortcuts. We don’t cut costs by cutting corners. We pay real
people in real workshops who meet real standards. Because we’d rather go
to bed with a clean conscience than a few extra bucks.

Made for Birds: Because They Were Here First

Made for Birds

Birds are magic. They connect us across continents, cultures, and backyards. They symbolise freedom, hope, remembrance. But here’s the grim truth: their habitats are vanishing. Their songs are going quiet.

We’re a company that exists because of birds. So we owe it to them to protect what we can.

That means supporting:

Forest & Bird (New Zealand): We support their relentless work protecting native species and their habitats, from bush to beach and everything in between.
American Bird Conservancy (USA): These legends are on the frontlines of protecting North America’s birdlife, from migratory songbirds to birds of prey.
BirdLife Australia (Australia): After the devastating bushfires, we backed their recovery efforts, and we continue to support their vital conservation programs.
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) (UK): For over a century, they’ve been champions for birds across the UK. We're proud to play our small part in helping them keep skies full.
Birds Canada (Canada): These folks are leaders in research, conservation, and education, working to ensure a future for birds from coast to coast.
Vogelbescherming Nederland (Netherlands): We’ve partnered with them on eye-catching public art installations to raise awareness, and draw attention to vulnerable species and their habitats.
BirdLife International (Global): Together, we’re helping five critically endangered bird species fight their way back from the brink. Because birds need allies everywhere.

We donate time. We donate profits. We get our hands dirty. Because we believe you can make beautiful things and make a difference.

Why We’re The Original Metalbird

We added “The Original” to our name not to flex, but to clarify.

Yes, we were the first. And yeah, we think we’re still the best. But "The
Original" is about something deeper.

It means:

Manufacturing locally, not wherever’s cheapest.
Choosing family-owned factories over faceless conglomerates.
Giving back to the birds that inspire us.
Building a global art project with local roots.

Metalbird isn’t just what we make. It’s how we make it, why we make it, and
who we make it for. And that’s what makes us The Original.