Chijik-Pyjik, the smallest monument in St Petersburg, measures only 11 sm and weights about 5 kilos. It is a bird sitting on an embankment of Fontanka river close to the Engineeer’s castle and the Summer garden. The monument was installed in 1994 and quickly became one of the tourist attractions in our city. We have a mockery song that can be translated like “ – Chyjik-Pyzik where have you been? – I was drinking vodka near Fontanka river”. Of course, the bird “Chyjik” didn’t drink any vodka – students of Imperial Law Acabemy in 19th century were nicknamed this way because of their greenish with yellow uniform that resembles plumage of this bird. The English name of Chyzik bird is siskin.
The monument was stolen several times but it was being restored all the time.