Of a Feather: Research and Inspiration

Sun, 10 Sep 2017 00:37:09 GMT

What is a bird?

According to Merriam Webster, a bird is "any of a class (Aves) of warm-blooded vertebrates distinguished by having the body more or less completely covered with feathers and the forelimbs modified as wings."

What makes a bird a bird?

Birds are vertebrates.
Birds have feathers.
Birds have wings.
Birds have bills.
Birds are warm-blooded.
Birds have high metabolisms.
Birds are bipedal.
Birds have a furcula (wishbone).
Birds lay eggs.
Birds communicate verbal and nonverbal sounds.
Birds migrate.
(From What is a bird?)

Who have they inspired?

Charles Darwin began developing the theory of evolution after observing pigeons. Darwin’s Other Bird—The Domestic Pigeon

The Wright Brothers spent a lot of time observing birds in flight. History of Flight - The Wright Brothers

Jayson Fann creates "spirit nests" inspired by the nests of birds. Californian tree nests: Inspired by birds, built for people

Peregrination to Toronto

On Saturday, September 9, 2017, I travelled to the University of Toronto's Biodiversity Teaching Lab to draw and photograph biological specimens. I was immediately attracted to the cabinets filled with birds and bird parts.

Here are some of the specimens I photographed:

I set up a work station and chose some specimens to draw.

I ended up doing two drawings.

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Shantell Powell

Of a Feather: Research and Inspiration

What is a bird?

What makes a bird a bird?

Who have they inspired?

Peregrination to Toronto