Architecture by Birds and Insects

Architecture by Birds and Insects
Author :
Publisher :
Total Pages : 172
Release :
ISBN-10 : UOM:39076002768104
ISBN-13 :
Rating : 4/5 (04 Downloads)

Synopsis Architecture by Birds and Insects by : Peggy Macnamara

Influential American architect Philip Johnson once mused, "All architecture is shelter; all great architecture is the design of space that contains, cuddles, exalts, or stimulates the persons in that space." But with just a small swap of a key word, Johnson could well have been describing animal nests. Birds and insects are nature's premier architects, using a dizzying array of talents to build functional homes in which to live, reproduce, and care for their young. Recycling sticks, branches, grass, and mud to construct their shelters, they are undoubtedly the originators of "green architecture." A visual celebration of these natural feats of engineering and ingenuity, Architecture by Birds and Insects allows readers a peek inside a wide range of nests, offering a rare opportunity to get a sense of the materials and methods used to build them. Here, we see the kinds of places where nests are built--for instance, the house wren has been known to occupy cow skulls, flower pots, tin cans, and the pockets of hanging laundry, while the uglynest caterpillar prefers rose bushes and cherry trees. Inspired by the vast nest collection at the Field Museum, which features specimens gathered throughout North and South America, Peggy Macnamara's paintings are enhanced by text written by museum curators. This narrative provides a foundation in natural history for each painting, as well as fascinating anecdotes about the nests and their builders. Like so many natural treasures, nests are easy to ignore. But Macnamara's gorgeous paintings will undoubtedly change that. Architecture by Birds and Insects at last gives the tiniest engineers their rightful moment in the spotlight, and in so doing increases awareness and encourages the protection of birds, insects, and their habitats. Readers will never look at a Frank Gehry design, or a treetop nest, the same way again.

Avian Architecture

Avian Architecture
Author :
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Total Pages : 83
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9780691148496
ISBN-13 : 069114849X
Rating : 4/5 (96 Downloads)

Synopsis Avian Architecture by : Peter Goodfellow

Examines the nests that birds build around the world, including illustrations of each nest type's construction, descriptions of the materials and techniques used during the process, and case studies on specific birds' habitats.

Art and Architecture of Insects

Art and Architecture of Insects
Author :
Publisher : Foreedge
Total Pages : 0
Release :
ISBN-10 : 161168532X
ISBN-13 : 9781611685329
Rating : 4/5 (2X Downloads)

Synopsis Art and Architecture of Insects by : David M. Phillips

Discover the hidden beauty of insect anatomy

Insect Architecture

Insect Architecture
Author :
Publisher :
Total Pages : 464
Release :
ISBN-10 : HARVARD:32044107287252
ISBN-13 :
Rating : 4/5 (52 Downloads)

Synopsis Insect Architecture by : James Rennie

Bird-Friendly Building Design

Bird-Friendly Building Design
Author :
Publisher :
Total Pages :
Release :
ISBN-10 : 1495180395
ISBN-13 : 9781495180392
Rating : 4/5 (95 Downloads)

Synopsis Bird-Friendly Building Design by : Christine Sheppard

Audubon Birdhouse Book

Audubon Birdhouse Book
Author :
Publisher : Voyageur Press
Total Pages : 162
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9781627880831
ISBN-13 : 1627880836
Rating : 4/5 (31 Downloads)

Synopsis Audubon Birdhouse Book by : Margaret A. Barker

Produced in association with the National Audubon Society, Audubon Birdhouse Book explains how to build and place safe, species-appropriate bird homes for more than 20 classic North American species, from wrens to raptors. A visit to almost any home or garden center presents birders with numerous cute and colorful contraptions that are sold as bird homes. But the fact is, many of these products provide anything but a safe refuge for your feathered friends. Each of the easy-to-build boxes and shelves within is accompanied by cut lists, specially created line diagrams, and step-by-step photography, making the projects accessible to those with even the most rudimentary woodworking skills. In addition, this practical and beautifully presented guide is packed with color photography and profiles and range maps for the bird species covered—including titmice, chickadees, nuthatches, phoebes, swallows, waterfowl, and even kestrels and owls—to help the reader properly place and maintain the homes to attract birds. And because these projects are the product of years of experience and field-testing, you can be sure you’re getting the best advice regarding proper design, safe construction materials, and correct home placement to mitigate exposure to elements, pests, and predators. Finally, beyond the birdhouses, you’ll find out how you can contribute to the larger birding community and even enhance your birding experience with the aid of new technologies. Build an Audubon-approved home for these species: Bewick’s, Carolina, or House Wren; Prothonotary Warbler; Eastern, Western, or Mountain Bluebird; Ash-throated or Great Crested Flycatcher; Tree Swallow or Violet-green Swallow; Juniper, Oak, Black-crested, or Tufted Titmouse; Barred Owl; Eastern or Western Screech-owl; Barn Owl; Northern Flicker; American Kestrel; Black-capped, Carolina, or Mountain Chickadee; Wood Duck; Hooded Merganser; Purple Martin; Mourning Dove; Barn Swallow; American Robin; House Finch; and Eastern or Say’s Phoebe.

Animal Architects

Animal Architects
Author :
Publisher : Basic Books (AZ)
Total Pages : 338
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9780465027828
ISBN-13 : 0465027822
Rating : 4/5 (28 Downloads)

Synopsis Animal Architects by : James L. Gould

Looks at why animals build, explores the building processes of a variety of species, and discusses how a study of animal building behavior can provides an understanding of the human mind.

Ant Architecture

Ant Architecture
Author :
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Total Pages : 244
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9780691218496
ISBN-13 : 0691218498
Rating : 4/5 (96 Downloads)

Synopsis Ant Architecture by : Walter R. Tschinkel

An unprecedented look at the complex and beautiful world of underground ant architecture Walter Tschinkel has spent much of his career investigating the hidden subterranean realm of ant nests. This wonderfully illustrated book takes you inside an unseen world where thousands of ants build intricate homes in the soil beneath our feet. Tschinkel describes the ingenious methods he has devised to study ant nests, showing how he fills a nest with plaster, molten metal, or wax and painstakingly excavates the cast. He guides you through living ant nests chamber by chamber, revealing how nests are created and how colonies function. How does nest architecture vary across species? Do ants have "architectural plans"? How do nests affect our environment? As he delves into these and other questions, Tschinkel provides a one-of-a-kind natural history of the planet's most successful creatures and a compelling firsthand account of a life of scientific discovery. Offering a unique look at how simple methods can lead to pioneering science, Ant Architecture addresses the unsolved mysteries of underground ant nests while charting new directions for tomorrow’s research, and reflects on the role of beauty in nature and the joys of shoestring science.

Animal Architecture

Animal Architecture
Author :
Publisher : Harry N. Abrams
Total Pages : 0
Release :
ISBN-10 : 1419711652
ISBN-13 : 9781419711657
Rating : 4/5 (52 Downloads)

Synopsis Animal Architecture by : Ingo Arndt

Collects photographs of structures created by animals, from the six-foot-high hills of tiny red ants to the colorfully decorated courtship arenas of the bowerbird, showcasing the connections between human and animal architecture.

Built by Animals

Built by Animals
Author :
Publisher : OUP Oxford
Total Pages : 280
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9780199205561
ISBN-13 : 0199205566
Rating : 4/5 (61 Downloads)

Synopsis Built by Animals by : Mike Hansell

From vast termite mounds that outstrip our own skyscrapers, to elaborate birds nests, delicate shells, and deadly spiders' traps, the constructions of the animal world can amaze and at times humble our own engineering and technology. Mike Hansell reveals the biology behind animal architecture - showing how small brains have evolved to produce complex and beautiful structures.