Avium terrestris
Avium Terrestris. The land birds. The mockingbird and the finch. The keys to unlocking the theory of evolution. Birds familiar to ornithologist residing in the British Isles. Other bird specimens were considered exotic. With the exotics there was nothing to compare to at home. But the mockingbirds and finches, they were British – so the accident of discovery was possible as a comparative analysis to the familiar with the mutations in the Galapagos species needed explanation. And asking why.
Mockingbirds and finches. These were so British. Workers in the environment designed to exploit the available food sources. In 1776, a half century before the voyage of the Beagle, and probably part of Darwin’s education, Adam Smith wrote in his book aptly named “An inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations” about specialization. The underlying principle in Adam Smith’s work was the division of labor. Nature and causes producing a wealth of diversity, perhaps a division of labor within a species to exploit the available resources. Each island, each beak, evolved to suit a niche.
Other birds had flair – and obvious specialized characteristics. The brilliant turquoise eye of the Galapagos dove, the long tail of the night hunting tropic bird, the long beaks of the whimbrel, oyster catcher, plover, sand piper, the stabbing beaks of the yellow crowned night heron and Great blue heron. The unique bill shape of the flamingo. The sharp predatory beak of the peregrine falcon and owl. Specialized designs but not variety within one species.
Why do we ask why? Darwin and many of the naturalist relied on inductive reasoning. Making observations then coming up with a theory. Then seeing if the theory could be tested. This may be the root of human thinking. Anyone who has been around kids can attest to this as they must constantly answer their demands to know “why?” We observe, then want to know the reason. It is a good lesson for the photographer to observe what they are photographing and then try to understand the why of what they are seeing. Seldom do I go to a place anymore with a preconceived notion of what it is about until I see the collection of what I end up photographing. Then comes the why. Just saying it’s a good shot, the lighting was superb, the cloud formations were interesting, is not enough. Only when I get back to see the entire compilation – can I even begin to make sense of the nature of the place.
To this I tip my hat. It was the patience to stand back and observe. Mockingbirds and finches. Multiple varieties within a species. Differing from island to island. Would you have asked, Why?
Read MoreMockingbirds and finches. These were so British. Workers in the environment designed to exploit the available food sources. In 1776, a half century before the voyage of the Beagle, and probably part of Darwin’s education, Adam Smith wrote in his book aptly named “An inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations” about specialization. The underlying principle in Adam Smith’s work was the division of labor. Nature and causes producing a wealth of diversity, perhaps a division of labor within a species to exploit the available resources. Each island, each beak, evolved to suit a niche.
Other birds had flair – and obvious specialized characteristics. The brilliant turquoise eye of the Galapagos dove, the long tail of the night hunting tropic bird, the long beaks of the whimbrel, oyster catcher, plover, sand piper, the stabbing beaks of the yellow crowned night heron and Great blue heron. The unique bill shape of the flamingo. The sharp predatory beak of the peregrine falcon and owl. Specialized designs but not variety within one species.
Why do we ask why? Darwin and many of the naturalist relied on inductive reasoning. Making observations then coming up with a theory. Then seeing if the theory could be tested. This may be the root of human thinking. Anyone who has been around kids can attest to this as they must constantly answer their demands to know “why?” We observe, then want to know the reason. It is a good lesson for the photographer to observe what they are photographing and then try to understand the why of what they are seeing. Seldom do I go to a place anymore with a preconceived notion of what it is about until I see the collection of what I end up photographing. Then comes the why. Just saying it’s a good shot, the lighting was superb, the cloud formations were interesting, is not enough. Only when I get back to see the entire compilation – can I even begin to make sense of the nature of the place.
To this I tip my hat. It was the patience to stand back and observe. Mockingbirds and finches. Multiple varieties within a species. Differing from island to island. Would you have asked, Why?
