Pigeon Fest Manhattan launches June 14 at the High Line, unleashing a 17-foot aluminum pigeon, Zumba-style bird dance party, and city’s first Pigeon Impersonation Pageant. Urban birdwatchers and skeptics collide over art, science, and the city’s “controversial” icons.

From a giant aluminum pigeon to a Zumba dance party, Pigeon Fest’s wild mix draws flocks of oddballs and conservationists. The event’s puppet show, led by Mother Pigeon, spotlights New Yorkers’ absurd bond with the city’s winged residents—“Love them or hate them, people are fascinated.”

Artist Iván Argote’s 17-foot-tall aluminum pigeon sculpture inspired the festival’s launch on National Pigeon Appreciation Day.