Tuesday, March 11, 2008

If you build it they will come.





At least that's the theory if you are a male Bowerbird. There are as many nest building techniques as there are species of birds. One of the most unique and dare I say, artistic nest builders is the male Bowerbird, a native of Australia and New Guinea. He builds an elaborate 'bower' of foliage and twigs and decorates the 'yard' with miscellaneous collected articles, usually consisting of one color. The bird with the most pleasing arrangement wins the girl. Some country bowerbirds gather neutral monochromatic displays consisting of shells, bones, rocks and other items that appeal to them. While birds dwelling closer to humans can come up with a large variety of same colored items, like toy figures, toothbrushes, bottle caps, clothespins and any other item that suits their artistic palette. So while I've been busy gathering items I need to create assemblage art, I find that there birds that have been doing it for ages. Guess the saying "there is nothing new under the sun" applies here. Check out the article at Zymogyphic Museum for more info.

6 comments:

Christopher A. Klingler said...

GREAT post and very interesting!

Artists artists everywhere!!! LOL ;)

Chris

yellowdoggranny said...

i saw this on tv, some nature show..and it was fantastic..the males do this dance and build the nest and the female looks at him like he's nuts..until that right dance and the right nest and then....she's a gonner..just so cool...

High Desert Diva said...

Isn't this interesting...the male of the species and his interesting ways of courtship...fascinating no matter what the animal.

In this instance the color coordination fascinates me...

mary schweitzer said...

Whenever I visit here I feel like I'm taking a trip to a wonderful land full of color and info and inspiration.
You have an amazing blog.
Mary

KE said...

That is so cool....thanks for sharing!!!!

Kimberlee

Karen from A`Musements said...

Oh this all looks like home... I have spent the morning blowing-out 4 dozen quail eggs (and yes, I got all 48 blown without crushing even one!) I now have a headache, but what a lovely little pile of speckled eggs. The little guy in your picture looks overworked and underpaid. Maybe he'd like a job with me...