News
- Experimental Landscapes: Alexander Felson on Ecology and Design:: A very interesting interview with “Alexander Felson, an assistant professor at Yale in both the School of Foresty & Environmental Studies and the School of Architecture, is a different kind of urban ecologist. In his research and his design work, he calls for an ecological practice that moves from analyzing nature to shaping it, embedding scientific experiments into the design process.”
- Get off my lawn: Song sparrows escalate territorial threats – with video:: Ever wonder what Song Sparrows are saying? A new study finds that “This is one of the most complicated communication systems outside of human language”.
- Why Study Urban Wildlife?:: ” How can we predict which species will thrive? How can we reduce conflicts with nuisance species? Can urban areas serve as refugia for rare and imperiled animals? These are all fairly new questions, and big unknowns attract scientists like statues attract pigeons.”
- Botanising on asphalt -– weeds, memory and an empty patch on the street corner:: “The postwar era carried a reconstruction and modernisation ethos with it, but the cities and towns could not be remade overnight, that process took many decades. And during the interim such sites remained as unused derelict land, co-opted as playgrounds, informal storage, advertising hordings and the empire of weeds.”
- Eating on a Green Roof: New York’s Buildings Provide Food, Habitat for Wildlife:: “New York’s green roofs do more than add a splash of green to the urban habitat. They also provide a crucial stopping ground and habitat for birds flying through. Researcher Dustin Partridge tracks the insect life on roofs throughout New York to see if the roofs are providing food sources for the birds.”
- The science of cities: Life in the concrete jungle:: “Ecologists are exploring how people, buildings, wildlife and pollution interact in the world’s cities.”
- Why We Need Cities in Tune with Nature:: During a session at a Greenbuild conference several professionals “argued that cities can be in tune with nature, actually embody nature in physical design, and foster deeper connections with natural systems.”
- Turning Israeli roofs into green habitats::”The new Green Roofs Ecology Center in Haifa is the first of its kind in the Middle East and one of the first globally to focus on biodiversity.”
- Celebrating the Natural Soundscapes of Cities:: “The fact that so many fail to recognize these sorts of common nature sounds suggests something about our disconnect from the aural realm, perhaps the fact that we have lost the skill or desire to carefully listen to the world around us.”
- City bees hit the road to hunt for flowers:: “Strategies that reduce local use of pavement and increase natural habitat within the landscape could improve nesting opportunities for wild bees and help protect global food supplies, the study suggests.”
- Historic Gardens – Where Nature Meets Culture – Can be Urban Biodiversity Hotspots:: “Gardens are places where the Nature meets Art. Today, historic gardens play a very unique role in urban environment and need to be managed thoughtfully, with principles in mind.”
- Your city garden can go completely wild:: “Landscape architect and avid birder Keith Geller’s garden in the Madison Valley is designed for both people and birds.”
- Biophilia: A Birthright to Cultivate::An Interview with Stephen Kellert.
- Study Shows Homeowner Associations Can Support Native Species in Suburban Neighborhoods:: “Although it’s known that construction of homes in suburban areas can have negative impacts on native plants and animals, a recent study led by University of Massachusetts Amherst ecologist Susannah Lerman suggests that well- managed residential development such as provided by homeowners associations (HOA) can in fact support native wildlife.”
- The world’s greatest museum of art and design gets a new roof for wildlife:: “Wildlife charity Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust, are due to start work on a Living Roof project at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in central London this spring.”
- The Forgotten Landscapes:: “Once part of the working-class dream, these industrial icons were a symbol of prosperity, supplying jobs and income for families.”
- The Need for Bird-Friendly Design:: “For many people, birds and nature have intrinsic worth. Birds have been important to humans throughout history, often used to symbolize cultural values such as peace, freedom, and fidelity.”
- Urban Greening: Nature is back in town:: “To have any prospect of being thought part of the solution, rather than part of the problem, the future city can only come in one colour: Green.”
- Buglife transform industrial sites for wildlife in Wales:: “Former industrial sites in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot will be improved for bugs such as the butterfly Dingy skipper and Brown-banded carder bee thanks to work by Buglife.”
Resources
- Portland Ecoroof Symposium:: “On Thursday May 2, 2013, join the City of Portland for a series of presentations and case studies that detail current research examining the green roof bottom line.”
- Ground bees active but do not threaten people or yards:: This informative post explains why you should not worry or call pest control when you see mounds of soil and swarming bees.
- The Ultimate Guide to Attracting Bees:: A post with over 60 links to excellent articles and resources for designing bee habitat and learning about these pollinators.
- The Ultimate Guide to Butterfly Gardening:: Another post, this one with 136 links to resources and articles about butterflies and moths.
- Ultimate Guide to Birdscaping Your Garden:: One more post, this one focusing on birds and creating habitat with nearly 200 links.
- Nature Children’s Books:: The Local Ecologist has a post featuring their favorite nature books.
- Swallows Love People, and We Should Love Them Back:: “For some reason, purely by accident, it turns out that many of the world’s swallow species now nest primarily in structures built by humans.”
- Swallows on Cliffs and Bridges:: “In this era of human domination of the world, a successful animal or plant may be defined as one that has adapted in some way to human presence, even benefits by it.”
- Hedgerows as Habitat:: “A hedgerow is a more or less linear row of trees and shrubs, often interplanted with annuals, perennials, and grasses.”
- Pimp the Pavement: A Brief History of Seedbombing:: ” Seed bombing, as it’s known today, is definitely punk, but it’s also a cheap and effective way for you, me, and everyone we know to transform an eyesore into a resource.”
- Beginners Guide to Pollinators and Other Flower Visitors:: “An illustrated beginner’s field guide to insect flower visitors, including pollinators.”
Design
- SITES Certifies Four More Landscapes:: An article from The Dirt highlights four new landscapes from around the country certified with SITES.
- Paris Street Roundabout:: A partnership between the city and local wildlife trust has created a design as part of the Exeter Wild City project to bring habitat into a roundabout.
- Biophilia Design Competition:: This competition is going on now, the designs have been submitted and you can vote on your favorites.
- AtelierD’s Giant Honeycomb Bee Hotel Attracts Pollinators & Humans Alike:: “The giant honeycomb wall is an attractive retreat for wild bees who like to burrow into the tight spaces.”
- Northerly Island:: A framework plan for Northerly Island re-envisions 91 acres on Chicago’s lakefront, returning the land to public open space and ecological attractions.
- Reporting on the 2012 Integrated Habitats Design Competition – Ecosystem Services Come to Town:: “On Monday October 15, the London Natural History Museum hosted a unique conference exploring the integration of nature into the built environment for climate change adaptation.”
