The fake birds of Gare du Nord

Inside Gare du Nord, an unusual sonic addition - the fake sounds of birdsong piped in from speakers in the ceiling. The intention, I'm sure, is to bring a little nature into the station and to help travellers feel more relaxed. However, the combination of the huge station space, the volume of the bird calls and the speaker position leads 90% of travellers to ignore the sounds, 5% to look extremely confused at what's going on, and about another 5% to listen, notice and smile. The birdsong also blends into the beeping of the ticket gate - nature and machinery together in sound. Recorded in Paris, France in February 2026 by Cities and Memory.