Christopher Lyons was kind enough to send me information about the section of the Cathedral where the nest is located.

From the guidebook, The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, originally compiled by Edward Hagaman Hall, 17th edition, 1965, originally published in 1920.

“Exterior of Choir Clerestory

This rises above the roofs of the chapels.  In the canopied niches near the tops of the turrets and buttresses are ten stone figures nine and a half feet high by Borglum, as follow (south to north): St. James the Less with fuller’s club (indicating manner of his martyrdom), and St. Philip with Latin cross (symbol of his crucifixion), together on turret; St. Bartholomew, St. Thomas with square (spiritual architect); St. James the Great with pilgrim staff; St. Peter with key; St. Andrew with diagonal cross; St. Matthew with drapery over head; St. Simon with saw, and St. Jude with spear (indicating manner of their death), together on turret.  On the roof of the Choir facing eastward is a nine and a half foot bronze statue of St. Gabriel of the Resurrection, blowing a trumpet.  This is also by Gutzon Borglum.”

(Borglum was also the sculptor of Mt. Rushmore.)

So, as we look at the birds, we’ll need to remember that the sculptures are almost double life size!