Communication Models: System Postcard Research

Morgan's reply postcard is related to the idea of birdwatching, something done as both a recreational and scientific activity. Due to the diagrammatic nature of it, the approach seems to be a much more scientific direction related to identification specifically: the recognizing and recording of birds. In the field, things that birdwatchers might take into consideration may be size, color, location or even a bird call. However, the earliest approach to studying birds started with the collection of eggs and bird skins (key bones of the wings, leg and skull, along with the skin and feathers).

Interestingly enough, the identification of birds was made easier through the creation of optics/field glasses (the earliest field guide in the US being titled Birds through an Opera Glass, 1889). As many birds were originally observed by shooting, then identifying, various societies called for "bird protection". For birdwatching, the invention of the binoculars was extremely helpful as it allowed birders to continue to observe the animals in their natural habitat, as well as in a less harmful manner.

An idea that (sort of) relates to the above stuff, that I stumbled upon during my postcard iterations is that bird watching, in comparison to other bird-related activities (such as hunting) is a sport that allows the participant to enjoy the aesthetic of birds without harming them. (Shooting and stuffing for display, something depressing like that.)


Yay binoculars!

birding.com, wikipedia.


Even more research...

Revisiting the "system" idea: bird watching and hunting in my first iterations kept feeling like two different things, so I wanted to look for some sort of 'reason' as to why it's important to practice animal-friendly hobbies. After a little more reading on bird observation, one of the things I found out is that birds (much like other animals) are important indicators of the health of the environment. They live in almost every type of place within our worlds, are at the top of the food-chain (therefore vulnerable to accumulating chemicals), have representatives that depend on the full range of animal diets, and are easily observable.

So I guess my take on that, is that without birds living in their natural habitats (as opposed to a being a trophy in someone's taxidermy museum), it's one less way of regulating the health of our environment.


audobon.org, birds in backyards.