The Bird Table

More Nocturnal Recollections

Data logging

Observing the System - Nocturnal Recollections

All movements of the system during daylight hours, including responses triggered by users and weather, are memorised. Darkness brings about the reenacting these events for the human observer.















Nocturnal recollections of visitors past extend the human experience of the bird table. Events are relayed through the amplification arm and LEDs.

Feeding Time

Here the latest prototype is inserted into the environment. As an initial experiment the table is programmed to shake off visitors after a set feeding time. The birds soon tune into this, and spend more time hovering and fluttering round the table. Not only do occurences of these attractive dialogues increase, but also the amounts of feed consumed are reduced.

At once Sensor and Actuator...

Sensory capabilities are given by an accelerometer incorporated into the counterbalance. Currently this logs angular movement data onto a laptop spreadsheet. The small motor and propeller give the table dynamic potential. In both cases an Arduino IO board links the computer and construct.

Feeder Module

Initially a small wire mesh feeder module has been incorporated in the design. This will dispense peanuts, which are taken by many British garden bird species, but as the project develops different feeds and larger quantities may be used.

The Counterbalance

To balance the amplifying needle the motor housing and feeder module are grouped together. Here an early render of the framework is shown, with simple constructional rationale to allow faster prototyping.

A Natural Amplifier

The bird table is conceived as an amplifying machine, much like a seismograph, with a slender needle recording and broadcasting the variety of movements of the system.

Rudimentary prototypes were hand-built to establish an approximate balance and then a simple parametric model was used to make further adjustments. ‘Generative Components’ software enabled associative relationships to be set between the various characteristics of the model, such as length, curvature and type of curve. When used with rapid prototyping tools, in this case a laser cutter, many different prototypes can be produced and tested very quickly. Here the first six variants are shown, prior to manufacture.

An Ecology of Balance

The bird table is designed to amplify the beauty of garden birds movements. They are masters of balance and the table will play with this notion.

Not only does balance enhance the choreography, but enables the table to exhibit basic behaviours. The simple counterbalance becomes at once a sensor and an actuator, enabling the table to sense and respond to usage.

Here the first prototype is inserted into the environment. The birds soon fed on the food source whilst the counterbalance and pivot caused a beautiful rocking motion. The birds also seemed to associate the movement of the table with a food source. A still table could remain unvisited for many minutes, whilst one rocking after the departure of another bird was often visited straight away… This observation will surely inform later designs.