Birds for an Architecture Student - Lea Valley Birds (1 Viewer)

Birds for an Architecture Student - Lea Valley Birds - Pylon Aviary

Hi Bird Forumites,

I am an architecture student developing a project for an aviary based around the theme of urban ecology. A central idea is that organisms can be classified into 3 broad groups: Weeds, adaptive generalists which flourish in human dominated environments; relics, specialized for a particular environment in which they will survive if actively 'conserved', and ghosts, which clash with human development and are likely to be extinct except for in zoos. (read more about 'weeds' here: http://www.churchofeuthanasia.org/e-.../weedplan.html - its a weird site but the article was originally published in Harpers)

My idea is that the aviary can illuminate this idea spatially and architecturally, treating each group differently according to their needs and our goals. For example, the ghosts may need enclosure and protection, while relics might be provided with access to habitats in which they can nest, with the overall goal of increasing the wild population.

I have decided to site the aviary in East London's Lea Valley because of its industrial past, because its current neglected state with patches of land left to grow undisturbed offers ready-made habitat, and because its proximity to the Olympic village could create interesting juxtapositions of new and old development.

One of my goals is to draw parallels between the 'ecosystem' of industry and infrastructure, and the biological ecosystem. I have chosen the electricity grid as a starting point - with pylons having a particular attraction.

What I hope to do, in the end, is use computer tree simulations to design structures that are highly specialized to individual bird species, so I will probably be looking at a small number of species and their habitats in great detail.

Can you point me towards information about the birds of the Lea Valley (past and present) that I might want to investigate? Can you think of example birds that might fit into the three main categories (weed, relic, ghost?). Are there any programmes to re-establish bird species that left the area during industrialization, or studies showing the re-emergence of species following de-industrialization?

I've spoken to the Curator of Birds at London Zoo, who understood what I meant by 'weedy' organisms, but his specialism was exotic birds, rather than those native to England. He pointed me to the British Trust for Ornithology, but so far they haven't been able to help.

What do you think? I'm interested in your input on all aspects of this project - I think it could be very valuable and from a completely different point of view to my own.


Adam

PS. Attached is a photo I took on a recent walk through the valley. Its a birds nest in the upper reaches of a pylon. I also filmed birds flocking from one pylon to a neighbouring one, but with my limited bird knowledge I couldn't identify them. I'll post a picture tomorrow.

hmm. interesting first post. welcome.

With regards to your categories:

Weeds: Black Headed/Herring Gulls, Feral Pigeons, Rose ringed parakeets.

Relics: The obvious one for the Lea would be bittern - actively surviving in habitat conserved in the Lea area (or does this make it a ghost?), there are many waders that probably fit the bill (pun intended) here too, Red Kite?

Ghosts: Errm maybe Bittern, maybe common crane/spoonbill?

I guess with the relics you'd be looking more at habitat recreation so you might want to look at what happens at Rainham Marshes or London Wetland Centre.

Hello Adam,
I can't help you with your question, but, on behalf of the staff I can welcome you to the Birdforum. Sounds like an interesting project and I hope you continue to get more good feedback.

So is the aim to create an aviary that would house captive examples of your species categories? I that right?

In that case, you're going to be massively constrained by what species are legally and realistically available and what species could be propagated in such an environment.

Suitable species for Lea Valley could be:

Weed: Starling, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Herring Gull and, with a bit of imagination, wild swifts and barn swallows that nest at the aviary but are still wild.

Relic: Lapwing, Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow, Grey Partridge, waterfowl, Barn Owl.

Ghost: Bittern, Common Crane, White-tailed and Golden Eagles, Corncrake, Nightjar, Bearded Tit, Corn Bunting, Hen Harrier, Crossbill...anything with a very specialised habitat (that is usually also prime development land, such as marshes and lowlands) or that needs large undisturbed areas.

many species primarily rely on human structures for their nest sites these days, such as Starling, House Sparrow, Swift (all in high crevices), Barn Swallow (accessible buildings) while others regularly nest on human structures and these allow them to expand their range: Herring Gull (flat rooftops), Barn Owl (outbuildings, barns). And others will often use human structures such as pylons: Carrion Crow, Rook, maybe Collared Dove and Woodpigeon.

Hello soysoysoy

To add to what Poecile said, black redstarts sort of fit the weed category, but they're more like precious smog-stained jewels than anything else. They had a renaissance in London after WWII, thriving on the the wasteland habitats kindly created by the Luftwaffe. But as these areas were redeveloped, black redstart numbers in the capital went down, so I guess they're now ghosts to some extent. However, there are programmes underway to encourage their return -through architecture- by providing green roof spaces. See this link for further info:
http://www.blackredstarts.org.uk/

As regards wetland habitats, you may be interested in Chris Drury's 'Heart of Reeds' project in Lewes:
http://www.heartofreeds.org.uk/

Good luck with the project, it does sound very interesting.

Thanks for the welcome and all the interesting suggestions.


Looong post ahead:

I should probably say more about this classification system - I read about it in the book "The End of the Wild" by Stephen M. Meyer (http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=2&tid=10941). The basic premise is that the world is becoming more and more human dominated, and that in a short amount of time the number of places that are uninfluenced by people will diminish to none. Weeds are species that thrive in human dominated environments (which are similar all around the world and might be considered as something like its own biome), and can therefore out-compete the species that may have existed in a particular place before humans moved in. The world is therefore being transformed into a habitat for weeds.

I don't think the term 'weeds' here is being used in the narrow sense of either invasive exotics or 'unwanted', it simply refers to all organisms that do well by human activity. Fox populations, for instance, are growing in urban areas in the UK while they simultaneously fall in the countryside, because foxes find modern cities a more suitable habitat. That is not to say foxes are an unwanted animal, because many people like to see urban foxes, or that foxes are invasive, because they are native to the UK. They are weeds under this definition however.

Under this classification system, relics and ghosts make up all the rest of the plants and animal species. It is assumed that the world will become a 'planet of weeds' based on the growth of human population and settlement, hence, I suppose, the choice of these rather alarming terms. The author is passionate about this state of affairs, and terms like 'relic' and 'ghost' express the fears he has the future state of biodiversity on earth.

Robert, I think your points on ghosts are pretty much correct. A creature can be both a relic and a ghost - as I understand it the difference between them is the chance for survival. Relics may persist as isolated populations, or active conservation could preserve a species as a relic in the wild, otherwise it will disappear. It is likely that more relics will become ghosts in the future. I think the term was chosen because a species may be extinct in the wild, but still preserved in zoos - not truly dead, but a ghost.

Species that go on about their business without threat from mankind? Are there any species any more for which humans are a neutral factor? It seems as we expand into the last remaining wildernesses our effect will be either to increase the populations of a small number of species (by definition weeds) and decrease the populations of others (relics and ghosts). I would welcome examples of neutral species.

I think there is room in this system for another category - and that is domesticated species. This may be a subset of weeds, but there is a distinction in that many domesticated species are actively managed by humans, rather than receiving a 'passive' benefit from our activities.

I agree that I should look at accepted and coherent biological definitions - the curator of birds suggested I look at the IUCN system of endangerment classification, which I have yet to do. I'm defitintely open to your suggestions as well. The attraction, for me, of the weed/relic/ghost system is that it says something important about the way the world is heading, and invites a response - which is what I am trying to do with the aviary project.

Isurus: Thanks for the excellent suggestions. I will definitely look into the Rainham Marshes and the London Wetland centre, as well as your bird choices.

Poecile: Great suggestions.

The aim is not necessarily to house captive examples of all species. The aim will vary depending on the category they fall into. At the moment I am think that there will be some that are captive by necessity (likely ghosts), and that for the relics, the goal will be to help re-establish them and maintain a wild population. I'm not sure what stance to adopt with the weeds. Weeds, after all, can be seen all over the place. It may be that weed species will have to be kept separate from relics. The challenge will be to integrate the different functions of the aviary into one coherent structure that also allows people to get close to the birds.

About realism = I think I am allowing myself to be more ambitious than realistic with this project.

Moonshake: That's a great tip on the black redstarts, thanks!

- - -

Important question: Where is the best place to find information on the bird species mentioned in this thread? I'd be looking for detailed information on their habitats in particular. Is there a web resource? What about a good reference book?

I was thinking of updating this thread with my progress over the next couple of months. I would love to hear more of the thoughts from the community.


Adam

PS: All errors in terminology are mine - I'm still learning it.

soysoysoy said:

Important question: Where is the best place to find information on the bird species mentioned in this thread? I'd be looking for detailed information on their habitats in particular. Is there a web resource? What about a good reference book?

I was thinking of updating this thread with my progress over the next couple of months. I would love to hear more of the thoughts from the community.


Adam

PS: All errors in terminology are mine - I'm still learning it.

Click to expand...

Adam - I'd go to your local library and pick up a british birds field guide. Use that to get a bit of info and most importantly the latin names for the species you're interested in and google (and this site) will do the rest for you.

I'd certainly be interested in seeing more of the project. I don't know anything really about architecture but am always interested in things like this where they relate to the environment. There was a really good exhibition of Kisho Kurokawa's work at Kew Gardens that was similar.

Adam,

Great summary and clarifications (post before last, above). In this context I fully agree and especially like the use of attention-grabbing labels to express the fears regarding the fate of biodiversity on the planet. Along these sad lines you may want to refer to a book by Bill McKibben entitled "The End of Nature" -- It pretty much transformed my naive world view to one of practical realism regarding the fate of our natural world. And many of the fine books and essays on extinction theory by Peter Ward may also be worth a look.

Best of luck to you, and please keep us posted on your progress.

As a theoreticl projetc it's great, but as a practical one, you wont get very far with reintroductions due to the legal constraints and sheer amount of time and resources needed. It's a massive undertaking. To get species back, all you can do is recreate habitat and hope they'll come back themselves (they often do). But again this is impractical in East London - there just isn't the space (that's why the brids aren't there anymore in the first place) and it will take decades to accomplish and be spectacularly expensive.

I'm assuming this is a degree project and as such is not actually going to be physically built??

I'm not sure how it is looked upon from the perspective of realism for your course ie do you have to work with available materials, situations and laws, or can you go beyond these? (Another example would be designing a set of buildings on another planet- would that be a total no-no, or could you do actually do that based on the actual and theoretical knowledge already present) Do you get me?

As Poecile et al state, you may be onto a non-starter in terms of reality, in current conditions. However, looking to the future (which is a must . . ), there is plenty of scope. I don't know if you have researched the history of zoos and safari parks, but the concepts involved will have necessarily changed, and will continue to do so. Not an expert at all, but I would have thought safari parks were better than zoos than in terms of animal welfare etc. Apart from safeguarding species and allowing captive breeding, a major function is Education of course, and admirable as such.

Given Global Climate Change, increasing human poulation and encroachment, something you envisage could possibly very well be an answer, allowing microcosms of nature to exist in a protected environment, for educative purposes.

Are you hoping to stack your displays in a vertical building/space (tall- incorporating pylon like structures)?? if so, natural light could be an issue for breeding birds. Of course skillful manipulation of natural light is a issue in any building design.
Have you checked out extant aviaries?, the Eden project? Science Fiction books often include futuristic ideas on complete ecosystems within 'bubbles' on non- terraformed planets, (with plenty of good and bad science!)
My favourite zoo is the Sonoran Arizona Desert Zoo (or something like that) with very realistic displays in some cases. Creatures in their natural habitat.
For example the Peccaries(??) display is long and winding and you come across it several times on the route. Must give them more freedom/ illusion of space than a simple x by y enclosure.

Observing from an enclosed blind/ tunnel an idea to reduce disturbance/ increase viewing.

Bitterns have been known to breed in tiny reedbeds, whereas other vast swathes of seemingly prime habitat are untouched. Probaly something to do with water levels and especially food quality (eels and frogs etc), something you could possibly solve in a 'zoo' situation quite easily.

Whilst many here (on this forum) would probably not like the idea of capturing and captivating the wild indigenous bird species we get, there must be circumstances when it work, and theoretically definately worth pursuing. 20 years time, who knows what could transpire? Hopefully, our wildlife in nature reseves is going to be ok, whether in the relative wilds of the Avalon marshes (Somerset) or a smaller reseerve in London Barnes Wetland Centre. But zoos will always exist (can be v. valuable for reasons above), and better to evolve into somethimng better.

I visited a bird-of -prey centre last weekend, it was very sad to see some of the birds on their perches, eagles in small cages, Secretary bird pacing back and forth. Keeping wild birds in captivity an emotive subject, but can be solved? with compassion and skill?

Some ideas, apologies if I'm repeating others or your own basic ideas or misunderstood entirely!
Dan

Isurus: Thanks for the tip - that sounds like a sensible path to follow. I had wondered if there was a definitive guide or reference book that everyone in the UK birding community swore by, but I guess that’s not the case.

Robert: I looked up "End of Nature" on Amazon, and the argument that humans are now a prime influence on our environment (rather than natural influences) is right up my alley, even though his main subject is climate change. I'll have to get this one out of the library along with the British birds field guide.

Poecile and dantheman: This is a theoretical project - it will not be built. As such I do have control over what factors I take into consideration for the design. If I was doing this as a complete real world project, then the practical reality of laws and permissions (and budget) would have to be a factor. But I think that in this case it would only hinder the examination of the topics that I am interested in: biodiversity, human-animal relationships, infrastructural ecology, industrial/natural aesthetic juxtapositions.

It isn't for my degree. I have completed that, but in architectural education the degree is only one part of the full qualification. You have to spend time in practice (which I am currently doing), and also complete a further two year postgraduate diploma. That’s where this project comes in. I am not a UK citizen, and therefore university fees are very high for me. So high that if I don't get a scholarship, I will not be able to afford a UK diploma and I will have to leave the country and continue my studies in Australia or New Zealand (where I come from). This project is going to be what I am judged by in scholarship consideration, so it’s very important to me.

dantheman: An amazing array of good ideas there. You and I are obviously on the same wavelength. I often think looking at the world in a science-fictional way can be helpful - extrapolating from today’s trends and exploring the consequences.

Looking at the history of zoos is a good idea - and I found this great sounding book called A Different Nature on Amazon, which I will definitely read. A few others turned up in the search, but that sounded far and away the best one. I am actually planning on entering this design for a competition as well: The Environmental Zoo. Though I had begun my research and thinking before the competition was launched, it is an amazing fit.

The final aviary design could incorporate several different human-bird interaction types - up close and personal for weeds unafraid of humans, at a distance but within the same enclosure, separated by a transparent barrier, or at the end of a blind/tunnel.

The ethics of captivity is something I will have to consider fully - perhaps a visual comparison of different zoos from a conservation and ethics standpoint would be a useful piece of research to put in with the rest of the design development drawings.

[QUOTE: Robert: I looked up "End of Nature" on Amazon, and the argument that humans are now a prime influence on our environment (rather than natural influences) is right up my alley, even though his main subject is climate change. I'll have to get this one out of the library along with the British birds field guide. End Quote:]

Adam, you're a thorough man! And I might add (regarding that particular publication) that "Even though the main subject is climate change" ... one of the main consequences of such is the corresponding fate of species worldwide -- including those, ostensibly, in your "theoretical" aviarium.

And please don't overlook the works by Peter Ward, either. I can't remember which book exactly deals with the most appropriate correlation to your project (though I will try to locate it and send notice your way) but it asserts that humans have become, essentially, "extinction proof". That means, of course, that all else falls under our stewardship or fails to survive at all!

More soon.

Update with drawings

Hi guys,

Here is an update. I have picked out candidate birds based on your recomendations and the priorities of the London Biodiversity Action Plan. Their website helpfully allows a search based on London borough, and also lists reasons for concern like culturally valued, or in decline etc.

My presentation will be in the form of a bound portfolio, so I've collated the key information on the birds, along with a drawing I have made of each one, into a double A3 page spread (I'll try to attach that at the end, but it might be too large a file).

Attached are the first 5 drawings (I've included 3 mammals that will go into a chart explain weed/relics/ghosts).

5 more drawings

Last few

Pdf of my notes for the portfolio. I will revise this if I can get any more detailed information on habitats, which is my main concern. The RSPB were very good on Yellowhammers, because they are a farm bird and the RSPB have a section specifically for farmers, but info on other birds was a little sparse.

soysoysoy said:

Pdf of my notes for the portfolio. I will revise this if I can get any more detailed information on habitats, which is my main concern. The RSPB were very good on Yellowhammers, because they are a farm bird and the RSPB have a section specifically for farmers, but info on other birds was a little sparse.

Click to expand...

From a standing start in birding, that is a seriously impressive piece of work! The only major quibble (and it stands out a mile amongst the other good stuff) is the conflation of House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus). They are distinct species with the House Sparrow being the familiar bird of London parks, streets and gardens, now in decline like the Starling, and the Tree Sparrow being much more a bird of farmland. To an extent I am not sure you need either as the story of the House Sparrow is rather similar to the Starling and that of the Tree Sparrow is fairly well mirrored by the Yellowhammer. That woudl leave a gap for a gull species (probably either Black-Headed or Herring) as a weed representative. The expansion inland on the back of landfill and other human refuse has been one of the most obvious trends of the last fifty years in British birds.

Best of luck with it,
Graham

Not to mention that, in the USA, both Tree Sparrows and Starlings are WEEDS. They are killing off natural species faster than can be believed. They are everywhere. You can't pull into a parking lot without a cloud of House Sparrows and Starlings taking off.

Terry O'Nolley said:

Not to mention that, in the USA, both Tree Sparrows and Starlings are WEEDS. They are killing off natural species faster than can be believed. They are everywhere. You can't pull into a parking lot without a cloud of House Sparrows and Starlings taking off.

Click to expand...

Wrong thread, mate. This one's about the Lea Valley.

We can talk about Canada Geese and Grey Squirrels on another thread if you like.

Incidently, I remember SoySoySoy saying they were from overseas. If that is E Asia, then the conflation with House/Tree Sparrow is perhaps understandable, as in eg China I think it's the Tree Sparrow that's the main 'pest' species. Didn't Mao launch a national campaign against them? In the UK, up until about WW2, there used to be 'Sparrow Clubs' which existed for eradicating house sparrows in farms and villages. Boys and traps/catapults, that sort of thing, but it was officially sanctioned.