Bird Nests and Construction Behaviour

Download or read book Bird Nests and Construction Behaviour written by Mike Hansell and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2005-07-21 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bird Nests and Construction Behaviour provides a broad view of our current understanding of the biology of the nests, bowers, and tools made by birds. It illustrates how birds, among vertebrates, have more impressive and consistent building abilities than any other builders, excluding humans. However, birds seem to require no special building equipment and use quite uncomplicated behavior. The book raises general issues in the field of behavioral ecology, including the costs of reproduction, sexual selection, and the organization and complexity of behavior. This volume was written for students and researchers of animal behavior, behavioral ecology, and ornithology, it will nevertheless make fascinating reading for architects and engineers interested in understanding how structures are created by animals.