A returning flock for Finish

Kuyucuk Lake, Turkey, is a temporary home to over 200 species of migrating birds, making it one of the most ecologically vital wetlands in the country.

And then, two years ago, it dried up. The birds left, and their musical, 24/7 calls, songs, and cries left the town of Kuyucuk, less than a kilometer from the shores, feeling—and sounding—empty. In 2020, Turkish brand Finish decided to help save this wetland, alongside a slew of NGO’s and the Turkish Government. The Lake is slowly recovering, but before the birds come back in their massive, cacophonous splendor, Havas Turkey wanted to recreate the sounds of Kuyucuk, to remind the town that the birds will, one day, return.

With The Birds Will be Back, a monumental activation, (assisted by a veritable flock of sound designers and developers) Havas restored the sounds of the lake, projecting the 24-hour design across the town from the two mosques on either side of the town. As of the airing of the activation video, 40% of the lake has been restored, and most of the birds are back. The piece was directed by İpek Kent and produced by Depo Film.