DIGITAL ECOLOGIES Emma Bennett & Billy Morgan Unit tutors: Lisa Moffitt & Pierre Forissier
CONTENTS
Introduction
Proposal:
Project statement
Field photography
Thickening of site plan
Avian identification cards
Laboratory
Mapping localised data
Prosthesis
Mapping migratory data
Climate plans
Bouchot culture
Meteorological studies:
Axonometric study
The jet stream
Avian visual impressions
Sky sections
From machine to technical section
Topography of the sky
Human perspective impressions
Precedential work
Physical models
Perception altering devices
Site stratification
Seeing as bird:
Ocular & habitat research
Motion sonogram studies
Digital site model
DALGETY BAY A predominantly commuter town, Dalgety Bay, located on the north side of the Forth Estuary in Fife, was first identified as a site of radioactive contamination in 1990. The contamination itself is thought to originate from the residue of radium-painted dials from military aircraft incinerated, and then land filled in the nearby area, at the close of World War II. Although today local residents remain cynical about the damaging effects of the radioactive material, it is clear from birdwatchers’ records that the rich avian ecosystem of the bay has flourished thanks to decreased human presence that occurred as a direct result of the contaminatory findings.
FLOURISHING
WILDLIFE
One of the first things we noticed, once we had clambered through the woodland fringing the site and onto the bay itself, was the vibrant diaspora of birdlife - crows and gulls gliding overhead, songbirds in the trees, feathers from predatorial attacks strewn amongst the grass, and tiny redshanks taking pinwheel turns over the mudflats. Consequently, our primary ‘data’ interest became observing the movements, prevalence and species of the birds themselves.
SITE PHOTOGRAPHS Ground
G r i d d i n g p h o t o g ra p h s to m ake s en s e o f a e r i a l o c c u p a t i o n t h r o u gh u n d er s tan d in g t h e r e l a t ive h e i g h t s at wh ich b ir d s fly
SITE PHOTOGRAPHS Sky
S H E L D U CK Ta dor na Ta dor n a
WIGEON A n a s Pe n e l o p e
TEAL Anas Crecca
M A L L A RD A na s Pl a t y r hy nchos
L A PWI NG Va ne l l us Va ne l l us
RI NGE D PL OV E R C ha ra dr i us Hi a t i c ul a
P r e va l e n c e : Ve r y c ommonl y se e n
P r eval en ce: Ver y co m m o nl y s een
Prevalence: Very commonly s een
Prevalence: C ommonly s een
Prevalence: Very commonly s een
P r e va l e n c e : Ve r y c o m m o nl y se e n
Fo o d : I nve r t e b ra t e s, sma l l she l l f i sh a n d a qua t i c sn a i l s
Fo o d : A q u at i c p l an t s , gras s es , roots
Food: Seeds and s mall invertebrates
Food: Seeds, acorns and berries, plants, insects and shellfish
Food: Worms and ins ects
Fo o d : F l i e s, wo r m s, c r u st ac e a n s a n d m o l l u sc s
S t a t u s: Re si de n t
St at u s : R es i d en t
S tatus : R es ident
Status : R es ident
Status : R es ident
S t a t u s: R e si d e n t
RS PB L i st i n g : Amb e r
R SP B Li s t i n g: A m b er
RSPB Lis ting: A mber
R SPB Lis ting: A mber
R SPB Lis ting: R ed
R S P B L i st i n g : Am b e r
E I DE R S om a t e r i a M ol l i s s i m a
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER M e r g u s S e r ra t o r
GOOSANDER Mergus Merganser
RE D- THROATE D DI V E R Gav i a S t e l l a t a
RE DS HA NK Tr i ng a Tot a nus
S NI PE Ga l l i na g o Ga l l i na g o
P r e va l e n c e : Ve r y c ommonl y se e n
P r eval en ce: C o m m o n l y s een
Prevalence: Very commonly s een
Prevalence: C ommonly s een
Prevalence: Very commonly s een
P r e va l e n c e : Ve r y c o m m o nl y se e n
Fo o d : S he l l f i sh, e spe c i a l l y musse l s
Fo o d : Fi s h
Food: Fis h
Food: Fis h
Food: Ins ects , worms , mollus cs and crus taceans
Fo o d : S m a l l i nve r t e b ra t e s wo r m s a n d i n se c t l a r va e
S t a t u s: Re si de n t
St at u s : R es i d en t
S tatus : R es ident
Status : R es ident
Status : R es ident
S t a t u s: R e si d e n t
RS PB L i st i n g : Amb e r
R SP B Li s t i n g: Gr een
RSPB Lis ting: Green
R SPB Lis ting: A mber
R SPB Lis ting: A mber
R S P B L i st i n g : Am b e r
GANNE T M or us B a s s a nu s
CORMORANT P h a l a c r o c o ra x C a r b o
GREY HERON Ardea Cinerea
OYS TE RCATC HE R Ha e ma t opus Ost ra l e g us
C OM M ON GUL L L a r us C a nus
L E S S E R BL AC K- BAC KED GULL L a r us F usc us
P r e va l e n c e : Commonl y se e n
P r eval en ce: Ver y co m m o nl y s een
Prevalence: C ommonly s een
Prevalence: Very commonly s een
Prevalence: Very commonly s een
P r e va l e n c e : Ve r y c o m m o nl y se e n
Fo o d : Fi sh
Fo o d : Fi s h
Food: Fis h, s mall birds , s mall m ammals , and amphibians
Food: M us s els and cockles
Food: Worms , ins ects , fis h, carrion and rubbis h
Fo o d : O m n ivo r e
S t a t u s: Re si de n t
St at u s : R es i d en t
S tatus : R es ident
Status : R es ident
Status : R es ident
S t a t u s: R e si d e n t
RS PB L i st i n g : Amb e r
R SP B Li s t i n g: Gr een
RSPB Lis ting: Green
R SPB Lis ting: A mber
R SPB Lis ting: A mber
R S P B L i st i n g : Am b e r
CU R L E W N um e ni us Ar qua t a
C O L L A R E D D OV E Streptopelia Decaocto
DUNLIN Calidris Alpina
M AGPI E Pi c a Pi c a
BL AC KBI RD Tur dus M e r ul a
TRE E S PA RROW Pa sse r M ont a nus
Pr e va l e nc e : Ve r y c o mmo nl y se e n
P r eval en ce: Ver y co m m o nl y s een
P r evalence: C ommonly s een
Prevalence: C ommonly s een
Prevalence: C ommonly s een
P r e va l e n c e : Co m m o n l y se e n
Food: Wor ms, sh e l l f i sh a nd sh r i mp
Fo o d : I n s ect s , s n ai l s an d wo r m s
Food: Seeds and grain
Food: Omnivore
Food: Seeds and ins ects
Fo o d : I n se c t s, wo r m s a n d berries
S t a t us: Re si d e nt
St at u s : R es i d en t
St a tus : R es ident
Status : R es ident
Status : R es ident
S t a t u s: R e si d e n t
RS P B L i st i ng : Ambe r
R SP B Li s t i n g: R ed
R S PB Lis ting: Green
R SPB Lis ting: Green
R SPB Lis ting: R ed
R S P B L i st i n g : G r e e n
G U I L L E M OT U r i a Aa l g e
B L AC K H E A D E D G U L L Chroicocephalus Ridibundus
CA R R I O N C R OW Corvus Corone
ROBI N E r i t ha c us Rube c ul a
M E A DOW PI PI T A nt hus Pra t e nsi s
S TA RL I NG S t ur nus Vul g a r i s
Pr e va l e nc e : Co mmo n l y se e n
P r eval en ce: Ver y co m m o nl y s een
P r evalence: Very commonl y s een
Prevalence: C ommonly s een
Prevalence: Very commonly s een
P r e va l e n c e : Co m m o n l y se e n
Food: Fi sh a n d c r ust a c e a n s
Fo o d : Wo r m s , i n s ect s , f i s h an d car r i o n
Food: C arrion, ins ects , worms , s eeds , fruit and s craps
Food: Worms , s eeds , fruits and ins ects
Food: Ins ects - flies , beetles and moths - and s piders
Fo o d : I n se c t s a n d f r u i t
S t a t us: Re si d e nt
St at u s : R es i d en t
St a tus : R es ident
Status : R es ident
Status : R es ident
S t a t u s: R e si d e n t
RS P B L i st i ng : Ambe r
R SP B Li s t i n g: A m b er
R S PB Lis ting: Green
R SPB Lis ting: Green
R SPB Lis ting: A mber
R S P B L i st i n g : R e d
H E R R I N G GUL L L a r us Ar g e nt a t us
WO O D P I G E O N C o l u m b a Pa l u m b u s
JAC K DAW Corvus Mondeula
GRE Y WAGTA I L M ot a c i l l a C i ne r e a
GOL DF I NC H C a r due l i s C a r due l i s
WHE ATE A R Oe na nt he Oe na nt he
Pr e va l e nc e : Ve r y c o mmo nl y se e n
P r eval en ce: Ver y co m m o nl y s een
P r evalence: Very commonl y s een
Prevalence: C ommonly s een
Prevalence: Very commonly s een
P r e va l e n c e : Ve r y c o m m o nl y se e n
Food: Omnivo r e
Fo o d : C r o p s , b u d s , s h o o t s an d b er r i es
Food: Ins ects , fruit, s eeds , young birds and egg
Food: Seeds and ins ects in s ummer
Food: Ins ects
Fo o d : I n se c t s a n d l a r va e
S t a t us: Re si d e nt
St at u s : R es i d en t
St a tus : R es ident
Status : R es ident
Status : R es ident
S t a t u s: S u m m e r v i si t o r
RS P B L i st i n g : Re d
R SP B Li s t i n g: Gr een
R S PB Lis ting: Green
R SPB Lis ting: Green
R SPB Lis ting: A mber
R S P B L i st i n g : Am b e r
AVIAN IDENTIFICATION CARDS Used on site to facilitate bird watching & our understanding of species patterns
BIRD WATCHING ANALOGUE DATA Seabirds observed on Dalgety Bay, 23rd September 2014
CONVERSING WITH A BIRDWATCHER
I s this one of t he be st time s o f ye a r fo r b irdwa tch ing?
“ Yeah , ye a h i t i s i f yo u ’re in te re s te d in s e e in g d ifferent s tuff I mean, I count s tuff as well... in terms of rar e bi r ds, t hi s i s def i ni t el y t he best t i m e of year. Cause er m , m ost bi r ds ar e on m i grat i on and dependi ng on t h e w i n d . . . I me a n we’re a l ong way away fro m th e E a s t c o a s t s o yo u know we don’t get mas s es of rare things but you do see, you do see som e. Most of t he wader s di sappear of f t o N or t her n cl i m es t o br eed so i n w el l , st ar t i ng t he e n d o f M ay, Ju n e , mo s t of Ju ly you’ l l g e t ve r y fe w wa d e rs - yo u a lway s g et one or two, s ome that haven’t bred or whatever but l ar gel y speaki ng t hey’r e not her e. . . You do get , you know, som e speci es of wader s j ust st op of f her e on m i gra t i o n a t t h i s t i me o f year, s o t hi ng s l i k e Gre e n s h a n k s a n d B la ck Ta ile d Godwits particularly. In the winter you get quite large num ber s of Sni pe as w el l , j ust si t t i ng on t he seaw eed.”
“In this pa r t of Fi f e , r e a lly th is is th e m o s t im p o r tant feeding s ite for birds in winter, probably you cou l d ar gue, l i ke, up t o t he Eden est uar y even.”
BIRD WATCHING ANALOGUE DATA Collated flight path observations, illustrating the receding nature of avian activity in relation to the rising tide
LOCALLY OBSERVED TERRESTRIAL & AERIAL AVIAN CHOREOGRAPHY 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, September 23rd 2014
Carrion Crow Res id en t
Collared Dove
Res id en t
Curlew Res id en t
Curlew (in flight)
Res id en t
Dunlin
Res id en t
Grey Heron
Res id en t
Herring Gull
Res id en t
Jackdaw
Res id en t
Lapwing
Res id en t
Magpie
Res id en t
Oystercatcher
Res id en t
Ringed Plover
Res id en t
Robin
Res id en t
Woodpigeon
Res id en t
Sandwich Tern
Su m m er vis ito r M ed iter ran ean > Gr eece
Redshank
Res id en t/Win ter vis ito r Icelan d > Br itain
Lesser Blackbacked Gull Res id en t/Win ter vis ito r
SECTIONAL CHOREOGRAPHY OF MIGRATORY AND LOCAL
BIRDS
Breeding season, May 2nd 2014
1500 - 6000m M igrato r y avian activity
P r ed o m in an t eas ter ly win d
0 - 100m Lo cal avian activity
LOCAL MIGRATORY PATTERNS
Ringed Plover
Arctic > Br itain
Wintering destination to breeding destination, passing through Dalgety bay, May 2nd 2014
Pink-footed Goose
Icelan d /Svalb ar d > Br itain
Little Auk
Gr een lan d /Icelan d / Svalb ar d > Br itain
Velvet Scoter Scan d in avia > Br itain
Bar-tailed Godwit
Scan d in avia/Sib er ia/ Alas ka > Br itain
Scaup
Alas ka/Sib er ia/Can ad a > Br itain
Turnstone
Wes ter n Alas ka > Br itain
Knot
No r th Am er ica > Br itain
Pintail Duck
No r th Am er ica/ Sib er ia > Br itain
Brent Goose
Sib er ia > Br itain
Sand Martin
N or t h Am e r i c a > S out h Am e r i c a
Black Tern
N or t h Am e r i c a > S out h Am e r i c a
Swallow
N or t h Am e r i c a > S out h Am e r i c a
Whimbrel
Al a s k a / Ca nda > S o u t h Af r i c a / S out h A m e r i c a
Leach’s Petrel
N e w f oundl a nd > B raz i l / We s t Af r i c a
Whitethroat
N or t he r n E ur op e > We s t Af r i c a
Tree Pipit
N or t he r n E ur op e > We s t Af r i c a
Willow Warbler N or t he r n E ur op e > S out h Af r i c a
Swift
N or t he r n E ur op e > S out h Af r i c a
House Martin
Ce nt ra l E ur ope > S out h Af r i c a
Wheatear
N or t he r n E ur op e > Ce nt ra l Af r i c a
Great Skua
I c e l a nd/ N or way > S pa i n/ Af r i c a
Little Gull
N or t he r n E ur op e / A si a > M e di t e r ra ne a n
Sandwich Tern
M e di t e r ra ne a n > G r e e c e / Tur k e y /S o u t h Af r i c a
Common Tern
We s t e r n E ur ope / R u ss i a > S out h Am e r i c a
Arctic Tern
Arc t i c > Ant a rc t i c
Arctic Skua
Arc t i c > S out h A f r i c a / S out h Am e r i c a
Long-tailed Skua
Arc t i c > S out h A m e r ic a / We s t Af r i c a
Pomarine Skua
Arc t i c > We s t A f r i c a
LOCAL MIGRATORY PATTERNS Breeding destination to wintering destination, passing through Dalgety bay, October 3rd 2014
GLOBAL MIGRATORY PATTERNS Breeding season, May 2nd 2014
MIGRATORY BIRD SPECIES (READ CLOCKWISE) North America & Canada
Gr een lan d & Icelan d
Arctic & Sib era
Eu r o p e
W him br e l Com m on Te r n
L e a ch ’s Pe t re l
Little Gull
G re a t S k u a
G re a t S k u a
A rc t i c Te rn
Wheatear
L o n g -t a i l e d
C o mmo n Te rn
S wa llow
Skua
Po ma ri n e S k u a
S a nd M a r tin
A rc t i c S k u a
S a n dw i ch Te rn
B la ck Te r n
H o u s e M a rt i n Wi l l ow Wa rb l e r
GLOBAL MIGRATORY PATTERNS Wintering season, October 3rd 2014
MIGRATORY BIRD SPECIES (READ CLOCKWISE) N o r th A m e r ica & C an ad a
Gr een lan d & Icelan d
Scaup
P i n k -f o o t e d
G re y P l ove r
Kn o t
Goose
Bre n t G o o s e
Pi n t a i l
L i t t l e Au k
Ba r-t a i l e d
Tur n s t o n e
No r th Eu r o p e & Sib era
G o dw i t
THE JET STREAM As we looked further into migratory patterns, understanding the extenuating meteorological conditions which dictated the way that these patterns were laid across the sky became a crucial part of understanding how Dalgety Bay was aerially occupied. In order to start understanding the sky as a layered entity, as for our global migratory maps, we opted to select two dates in the year, one at the height of the breeding season (May 2nd), and one in the midst of the wintering season (October 3rd) for which to begin investigating the topography of the sky. D i r e c t i o n & i n t e n si t y o f j e t st r e a m , May 2 n d 2 0 1 4
The jet stream directly effects atmospheric pressure, consequently dictating the weather conditions of Dalgety Bay. Higher pressure means dry and sunny conditions, and migrating birds favour such conditions in which to rest on their passage. May 2014, for example was the driest on record in Scotland - simultaneously, BirdTrack recorded its highest numbers of birds present in Dalgety Bay. , By considering the site as a vertical borehole through the Earth’s atmosphere, we were interested in the possible links between the site and the various layers of the atmosphere above, including the last artificial intervention before open space, the satellite. D i r e c t i o n & i n t e n si t y o f j e t st r e a m , O c t o b e r 3 r d 2 0 1 4
S tra t o s p h e re
12,000m
Je t s t re a ms 11,000m
Tro p o p a u s e
Hig h- le ve l c l o u d s
M id- le ve l c l o u d s
M ig ra t o ry b i rd s
3000m
Tr opos phe r e L ow- le ve l c louds R e s i d e n t b i rd s
STRATOSPHERIC SECTION Dalgety Bay to the stratosphere
100m
Dalgety Bay
Satellite
E x o s p h e re
600,000 m
The rmo p a u s e
180,000 m
The r mo s p h e re
140,000 m
Mesopause
90,000 m
M e s o s p h e re
70,000 m
S t ra t o p a u s e
50,000 m
S tra t o s p h e re
30,000 m
Tro p o p a u s e
11,000 m
Tr o p o s p h e re
6,000 m
Dalgety Bay
ATMOSPHERIC SECTION Da lgety Bay to the exosphere
Predominant wind direction
INVERSION OF METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS May 2nd, 2014
Jet stream direction
Cloud cover proportion
Predominant wind direction
Jet stream direction
Cloud cover proportion
INVERSION OF METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS October 3rd, 2014
DIGITAL TOPOGRAPHIES Generating a topography of the sky was necessary to understand the vertical meteorological choreography of the site, as well as determining the strata that directly affect the popularity of the Bay amongst birds. It also allowed us to start considering the sky as thicker than simply layers of air, rather as directional massings of pressure that were sometimes conflicting. We chose to represent the jet stream, predominant wind direction and cloud cover, as the latter was a direct result of the conjunction of the two former. In order to generate these basic topographies, using Grasshopper’s Image Sampling function, we plugged the inverted images into a rectangular grid, baking the results.
METEOROLOGICAL TOPOGRAPHY
Breeding season, May 2nd 2014
Wintering season, October 3rd 2014
BIRD MOTION SEQUENCE Illustrating relative heights of species activity
STRATIFICATION To truly understand the site as a complex, vertical avian landscape, we o pted to investigate avian vision itself. We began by selecting one species from each vertical strata that was inhabited by bi rds, for both nesting and feeding purposes: • Carrion Crow: Denser, upper reaches of woodland, either side of the bay • Robin: Fringes & lower reaches of woodland • Oystercatcher: Coastline & mudflats • Sandwich Tern: Coastal & over the sea These four species were selected not only for their representation of each strata, but also because during our visits they were among the most commonly seen. Using film to place the species within their habitats in the context of the site led us to want to start evaluating the sit e as a bird might - which habitats were important? Which meteorological and human conditions were interruptive and noticeable?
The flight of a gull in three images, reduced to its barest form
PRECEDENTIAL WORK Étienne-Jules Marey
AXONOMETRIC ILLUSTRATING AVIAN HABITATS May 2nd, 2014
SEEING AS BIRD Having selected our bird species, to understand how they value Dalgety Bay, we needed to understand how they inhabited it, hence our nesting and flight heights investigation. Researching some way into avian senses took us to a fascinating turn, that of the particular characteristics of each bird’s sight. From magnetoreception to ultraviolet light detection, their ocular abilities were many and varied, drawing us back to a filmic mode of expression.
SANDWICH TERN
OYSTERCATCHER
ROBIN
CARRION CROW
Th e e ye s of t he S a ndw i ch Te r n con t a i n r e d oi l dr opl e t s , whi ch a c t as f i l t e r s , e na bl i ng t he bi r d t o m o r e effe c t ive l y v i e w l ong di s t a nc e s in ha z y or poor l i g ht c ondi t i ons by i nc r e a s i ng t he c ont ra s t a nd s h a r pe ni ng t he i r v i s i on.
Th e O y st e rc a t ch e r, t h o u g h c o n si d e r e d a r e si d e n t b i r d , m i grates b e t w e e n t h e c o a st s o f S c o t l a n d , fo r b r e e d i n g , a n d S o u t h We st E n g lan d d u r i n g w i n t e r i n g se a so n .
Th e Eu r o p ean Ro b in n avigates by m agn eto r ecep tio n , a s ys tem th at en ab les it to vis u ally s en s e th e Ear th ’s m agn etic field .
Th e Car r io n Cr ow’s en h anced ability to s p o t m ovem en t ab ove 50 Hz, the level at wh ich m ovem en t becomes a co n tin u o u s b lu r fo r h u m ans, enables it to s p o t th e activity o f small m am m als o n wh ich it s o metimes feed s .
Th i s e na bl e s t he S a ndw i ch Te r n t o s p ot m ov i ng s hoa l s of f i s h, bot h u nd e r wa t e r a nd a s t he y a r e f l y i ng acr os s t he s ur f a c e .
O y st e rc a t ch e r s r e g i st e r t h e g rad u al m ove m e n t s o f t h e st a r s a n d t h e su n , wh i ch t h e y u se t o r e o r i e n t t h e m se l ve s wh e n m i g ra t i n g .
Ter ns c a n a l s o r e g i s t e r t he g ra dua l move m e nt s of t he s t a r s a nd t he s u n, whi ch t he y us e t o r e or i e nt th e m s e l ve s whe n m i g ra t i ng .
OCULAR CHARACTERISTICS OF CHOSEN BIRDS Pictured habitat & RSPB illustration
Th e r o b in ’s m o n o cu lar vis io n als o allows its eyes to m ove in d ep en d en tly o f each o th er, en s u r in g it can keep an eye o n b o th p r ey an d p r ed ato r s im u latan eo u s ly. Th e r igh t eye o f th e r o b in co n tain s p h o to r ecep tive p r o tein s th at, wh en exp o s ed to ligh t, p r o d u ce u n p air ed electr o n s th at in teract with th e Ear th ’s m agn etic field . It is ab le to s en s e n o t o n ly th e d ir ectio n b u t als o th e s tr en gth o f th is m agn etic p h en o m en o n , allowin g it to b etter o r ien tate its elf in fligh t.
As th e lar ges t b ir d o f th e four, it has th e m o s t effective d is tan c e vision. It ad d itio n ally p o s s es s es the ability to s ee UV ligh t, em itted by some var ieties o f b er r y o n wh ich it feeds.
SANDWICH TERN
Op en s e a & coas tl i ne
OYSTERCATCHER
Ti d a l c o a st l i n e & st r e a m
ROBIN
Lower r each es o f tr ees & h ed ger ows
CARRION CROW
Up p er r each es o f tr ees
Relative flightspan
Typical nest
S ha l l ow s c ra pe o n ra i se d sa n d
G r o u n d sc ra p e , m ay b e lin ed , u su a l l y o n p e b b l e d su r face
Co n s tr u cted fr o m gras s , d ead leaves , m o s s , u s u ally fo u n d in tr ees o r h ed ger ows
Lar ge co n s tr u ctio n o f twigs, lin ed with h air an d b ar k, co m m o n ly fo u n d in fo r ks of trees
FLIGHTSPANS & NESTING HABITS Sandwich Tern, Oystercatcher, Robin & Carrion Crow
Sonogram overlaid with motion sequence
SANDWICH TERN AERIAL OCCUPATION Juxtaposition of sonogram with relative heights of activity on Dalgety Bay
Relative height occupation
Sonogram overlaid with motion sequence
Relative height occupation
OYSTERCATCHER AERIAL OCCUPATION Juxtaposition of sonogram with relative heights of activity on Dalgety Bay
Sonogram overlaid with motion sequence
ROBIN AERIAL OCCUPATION Juxtaposition of sonogram with relative heights of activity on Dalgety Bay
Relative height occupation
Sonogram overlaid with motion sequence
Relative height occupation
CARRION CROW AERIAL OCCUPATION Juxtaposition of sonogram with relative heights of activity on Dalgety Bay
FLATTENED AVIAN PERSPECTIVE VIDEO STILLS Oystercatcher, above, & Sandwich Tern below
FLATTENED AVIAN PERSPECTIVE VIDEO STILLS Carrion Crow, above, & Robin, below
Sandwich Tern
3 DIMENSIONAL VISUAL SITE MODEL STILLS Site model viewing site as a series of inhabited strata, through the eyes of the four species we selected
Oystercatcher
Robin
Carrion Crow
PROPOSAL Our hypothesis being that radiation is indirectly good for the bay, as decreased human presence has encouraged richer birdlife, we propose a symbiotic landscape between bird and man via a system of diffuse external installations which imitate the nature of avian vision, and which are integrated into the avian landscape with the creation of bird perch habitats and shellfish feeding posts. We also aim at wider social remediation through the inclusion of floating laboratories which monitor and track the birdlife using a leg tagging prosthesis system, but also research how avian vision can be harnessed for potential applications within human ophthalmology. This initiates a negotiation between bird and man that becomes an exploration of the social responsibility of the site, both physically in terms of sharing space and in using avian visual attributes to enhance human perception. Initially, we identified the principle node at which all the migratory flight paths intersect and sited this at the centre of the bay. Looking outwards from this, we worked along the principle that the buoyant laboratory would migrate along selected existing flight paths from the two extant piers. The laboratory works on the principle of five independent buoyant modules, connectable, which move along the pathways at high tide, (which we assume to be three metres above the ground at the node point). The devices operate at different horizontal strata in accordance with the activity of the four selected bird species. The first, and the highest with a ground height of 10m, is the Crow ‘binocular’ device, which connects the system of structures to the coastline, a long pathway gently sloping upward that simulates the effects of both ultraviolet and long distance vision. This is connected by a ramp descending four metres to the Robin ‘magnet’ device, which creates a structural notion of the flow of the Earth’s magnetic field, whilst providing monocular views. The magnet is connected via a swinging bridge, over the pathway of the laboratory, and a pathway that slopes down two metres to meet the Oystercatcher ‘observatory/reflection telescope’, a rotating device set into the boardwalk that contains an open air reflection telescope which projects its visual focus onto an interior wall. This is connected to the final device, the Sandwich tern ‘bellows camera’ by another swinging bridge, that descends one metre, bringing the final floor height to 3m or high tide level. The Sandwich tern comprises a live feed of underwater cameras projected into a space of receding frames that distort the filmic data, and an external installation that slopes down to below the water level, containing a red glass window into the sea. The vertical extremities of the crow and robin proposals comprise bird perches creating a diffuse avian and human co-habitat. The horizontal extremities of the oystercatcher and sandwich tern do the same. A supplementary field condition, sited on a grid formed by the overlapping wind direction and jet stream patterns, is comprised of Bouchot culture posts, which cultivate mussels taking advantage of the tidal differentiation over the mud flats. The Bouchot posts support the diet of the birds, encouraging greater and more diverse avian occupation.
AVIAN HABITATS
Car rion Crow
Eu r opean R obin
San dwich Tern
O ys tercatcher
THICK SITE PLAN Overlaid migratory patterns, meteorological phenomena and habitats of four chosen species
N ode poi nt o f m i g ra t o r y p a t h s a t c e n t r e o f b ay i l l u st ra t e d
D e ve l ope d p l a n , c o n si d e r i n g m o d e s o f i n t e r se c t i o n o f e a ch v i su a l d e v i c e
PLANOMETRIC PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT Working out and around migratory node point, at intersection of habitats & tidal flows
PROPOSAL FULL SITE PLAN 1: 5000
FLOATING LABORATORY PLAN 1:200 The laboratory sits as a raft on the surface of the water and comprises a towing post at the front, a small interstitial social space, driver’s cabin and a large scientific laboratory. As a mobile scientific unit, the laboratory moves across the bay docking at specific piers along the coastline, as well as outside the sailing club, which, attached to the side of the Sandwich tern installation, functions as the main social hub for scientists and visitors alike.
1
The wearable prosthesis is manifested in the form of a leg tag, transmitting live information of bird locations to the buoyant laboratories, 2
where the data is processed, and used to supplement research on the local species. The Sandwich Tern, a migratory bird seen in Dalgety Bay during the autumn, which journeys from its breeding grounds in the Mediterranean, to its wintering location on the West African coasts, serves as a potentially interesting species to track
1 - Wi n g sp a n
=
2 - Length
37 - 45 cm
We i g h t =
WEARABLE PROSTHESIS Sandwich Tern as a potential species to track
=
87 - 93 cm
180 - 300g
due to its migratory pattern.
15 mm
5 .5 m m
R a d i o t ra n sm i t t e r - C o r n e l l L a b o f O r n i t h o l o g y 5 g ra m s = < 5 % b o dy m a ss
Co m p lete leg tag
WEARABLE PROSTHESIS Leg tag with radio transmitter
WINTER PLAN Devices connected allowing pedestrian flow, 1: 3000
SUMMER PLAN Devices disconnected, 1: 3000
BOUCHOT CULTURE, DETAIL 1:5 A spiral of rope is attached to a wooden post, on which mussels are cultivated successfully due to the water level differentiation between high and low tide. The Bouchot posts are a permanent fixture, intended to supplement the avian diet and encourage greater avian population of the site. Their siting is dictated by a grid formed from overlaying the wind direction and jet stream patterns.
AXONOMETRIC OF ENTIRE PROPOSAL Devices connected, with Bouchot culture field condition shown
A s y s t e m of ope n a nd c l o se d f ra m e s, g ra d u a l l y c l u st e r i n g a n d d e c r e a si n g i n si z e , b e f or e e x pa ndi ng a g a i n, s i m ul a te t h e f a st / sl ow l a n d sc a p e t h a t t h e S a n dw i ch Te r n e x p e r i e n c e s w i t h i t s e nha nc e d pe rc e p t i o n o f f ra m e s p e r se c o n d . A p r o j e c t o r d i sp l ay i n g a l ive f e e d f r om unde r wa t e r c a m e ra s o n t o t h e st a g g e r e d f ra m e s a n d a st e p p e d , su b m e r g e d se c t i o n at t he e nd of t he de v i c e c om b i n e b o t h t h e u n d e r wa t e r a n d o p e n a i r h a b i t a t o f t h e Te r n .
DEVICE DETAIL AXONOMETRICS Sandwich Tern & Oystercatcher
A r o tatin g r eflectin g teles co p e, s et with in an o p en air s h ell th at p r o tects th e m ach inery fr o m th e elem en ts , r eflects an im age o f th e n igh t s ky th r o u gh a len s e an d o n to an in ter n al wall, r efer en cin g th e ab ility o f th e oys tercatch er to p erceive th e s low m ovement o f th e s tar s in th e n igh t s ky as a to o l fo r o r ien tatio n d u r in g m igratio n .
A swo o p i n g wo o d e n st r u c t u r e , w i t h l a t e ra l v i e w p o i n t s se t a t two d iffer en t h eigh ts , r e f e r e n c e s t h e m o n o c u l a r v i si o n o f t h e r o b i n , e n a b l i n g i t t o se e b oth p r ey an d p r ed ato r s i m u l t a n e o u sl y, wh i l st i t s f o r m d i r e c t l y i m i t a t e s t h e sh a p e o f t h e magn etic field th at is v i s i b l e t o t h e r o b i n . A n o c u l u s p r ov i d e s a v i e w sky wa r d , f u r t h e r r eiteratin g th e ab ility o f t h e r o b i n t o se e t h e Ear th â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s m agn etic field .
Th e s u p er lative lo n g d is tan ce vis io n o f th e cr ow is evid en t in the len gth o f th e d evice, grad u ally s tep p in g u p to 1 0 m etr es , whilst car efu lly fram ed viewp o in ts lo o k o u t o n to ar eas o f wo o d land in h ab ited by cr ows . A s ys tem o f m ir r o r s with in each viewp o in t act as b in o cu lar s , filter ed th r o u gh a p u r p le s cr een s im u latin g u ltraviolet vis ion.
DEVICE DETAIL AXONOMETRICS Robin & Carrion Crow
AVIAN VISUAL IMPRESSIONS Sandwich Tern
AVIAN VISUAL IMPRESSIONS Oystercatcher
AVIAN VISUAL IMPRESSIONS Robin
AVIAN VISUAL IMPRESSIONS Carrion Crow
BELLOWS CAMERA The bellows camera was chosen as the machine around which the Sandwich Tern device was premised. It seemed particularly evocative of the speed up/slow down experience that we hoped to create. Sectionally it began to inform the projection space, whilst in plan the concertina edge of the device was derived from both the earlier motion diagrams and the extended form of the camera itself.
SANDWICH TERN DEVICE Technical section, 1:200, with details, 1:100
REFLECTING TELESCOPE The Oystercatcher device was premised on tracking the movement of the stars in the night sky, and so the device began to derive its form from that of an observatory. Observatories must be external as glass would interfere with the image being projected, but must also provide shelter for the telescope. The most powerful telescopes on Earth tend to be reflecting telescopes, and work via a series of concave and convex mirrors that eventually bounce the light through a lense - in this case, the lense magnifies the image and consequently projects it onto an interior wall.
OYSTERCATCHER DEVICE Technical section, 1:200
MAGNET The Robin device was formally inspired by the shape and direction of the Earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s magnetic field, as well as images of simple experiments with iron filings and a magnet. As the magnetic field is always present in the eye of the Robin, the structure becomes a mesh imposed on the visitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s field of view as they attempt to look beyond it.
ROBIN DEVICE Technical section, 1:200
BINOCULARS Binoculars direct light through a series of convex and concave lenses and mirrors that ultimately magnify a distant image. With the Crow device, the four given viewpoints become binoculars in their own right, magnifying the habitats that they are orientated towards. The visitor can walk through and past these mirrors, entering the machine itself and culminating at an unfiltered version of the original image. The length of the Crow device also helps to create a sense of zooming in, as the visitor is gradually drawn on and upwards to the final viewpoints across the bay.
CARRION CROW DEVICE Technical section, 1:200
HUMAN PERSPECTIVE IMPRESSION OF DEVICE Sandwich Tern
HUMAN PERSPECTIVE IMPRESSION OF DEVICE Oystercatcher
HUMAN PERSPECTIVE IMPRESSION OF DEVICE Robin
HUMAN PERSPECTIVE IMPRESSION OF DEVICE Carrion Crow
Reuben Margolin, kinetic art installations
PRECEDENTIAL WORK Reuben Margolin & Arne Quinze
Arne Quinze, ‘Stilt Houses’
Sandwich Tern
Oystercatcher
Robin
Carrion Crow
BALSA WOOD DEVICE MODELS 1:200
SITE MODEL 1:1000
INITIAL SITE MODEL 1:3000
Sandwich Tern: speed up/slow down head device
PERCEPTION ALTERING DEVICES Sandwich Tern & Oystercatcher
Oystercatcher: periscope
Robin: magnetoreception simulation device
Carrion Crow: framed distance vision device
PERCEPTION ALTERING DEVICES Robin & Crow