Riley developed a connection with pigeons after rescuing one as a young boy and many of the birds involved in the project come from his personal flock.
"Fly By Night pays homage to pigeon keeping, both in New York and farther afield," the project's description states. "Pigeons have been domesticated for thousands of years and kept by people around the world for their companionship, sport, and service."
The project, which will take place Friday through Sunday at at dusk, will see the birds emerge from a historic boat at the Brooklyn Navy Yard with LED lights attached to leg bands that were historically used to carry messages.
The birds will then circle around the river as the sun continues to set, creating a floating body of light in the night sky.
"It will look like a constellation or tiny shooting stars the darker it gets," Riley told WNYC.
The project can be observed for free but tickets allowing guests to view the exhibit from the launch site were also sold.
