REYKJANES
Geirfuglinn – The Great Auk
Poignant bronze Great Auk memorial facing Eldey, where the last confirmed breeding pair of the extinct species was killed.
Hidden gemCultureHistoryWildlife
About Geirfuglinn – The Great Auk
Geirfuglinn is a bronze sculpture by American artist Todd McGrain and forms part of his Lost Bird Project. The life-sized Great Auk faces towards Eldey island offshore, where the last widely accepted breeding pair of Great Auks were killed in 1844. The work serves both as a memorial and as a reminder of human-driven extinction.
Our practical tips
✓Notice that the bird faces out towards Eldey rather than towards visitors.
✓This makes much more sense after reading the story of the Great Auk.
✓It is only a short walk from Valahnúkur.
