Chizhik-Pyzhik, Bronze monument near Fontanka River, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Chizhik-Pyzhik is an 11-centimeter bronze siskin that sits on a narrow pedestal along the Fontanka embankment wall. The tiny sculpture shows a small bird positioned directly above the water near the First Engineer Bridge.
The monument was installed in 1994 for the 19th anniversary of a brewery group, directly across from the former site of the Imperial Legal School. Students wore green and yellow uniforms there in the 19th century, resembling siskin plumage.
The name comes from a children's song about little birds drinking spirits by the river, referring to the green and yellow uniforms worn by law students. Tossing a coin onto the pedestal and making a wish has become a popular local habit.
The bird sits on the embankment wall near the First Engineer Bridge at water level, reachable on foot from the Mikhailovsky Garden or the Summer Garden area. Because of its size, you need to look carefully to spot it among the stones on the riverside wall.
This monument has been stolen multiple times and had to be replaced repeatedly, leading the Museum of Urban Sculpture to keep spare copies on hand. The thieves were never identified, even though the spot sits in a busy area.
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