Outside In

While the construction of artificial environments is not purely a human phenomenon, we’re the only creatures who use other-than-naturally-occurring materials, and we do just a bit more of it than everyone else. Our tendency to create artificial built environments confuses a lot of other creatures, for example the birds who can’t distinguish between our glass walls and open sky.

Another way we confuse animals – and I’ve seen birds, bats, and squirrels make this mistake – is by creating spaces that we think are indoor controlled environments but which have direct open connections to the outside. The animals come in through the openings that we don’t use, we come in through the doors, and we all meet inside.

This has all been a long lead up to: a pigeon in Staten Island Ferry Terminal, possibly annoyed after having found out that the flecks in the terrazzo floor are not food:

Birds, bats, and squirrels, being quite a bit smarter than insects, usually find their way back out without too much trouble, although they may startle some of us in the process. I do occasionally worry when I see a bird far underground: I saw a sparrow once on the 7 train platform at Grand Central, which is maybe 60 feet below grade. On the other hand I once saw a dragonfly get on the J train where it’s elevated in Brooklyn, sit on the floor for two stops and the fly out at the next stop, and I concluded it was commuting.