NIDIFICATION – A CONTEST

NIDIFICATION – A CONTEST

Obsessed, worried, ran out of all ideas … struck! Oh no! Am I feeling like a brain fog? What happened to my creativity corner? ‘Science fest’ is near and I have no idea what event to conduct for my students? Something innovative, interesting, some science in it and a cost effective event. No, this time I cannot think something new.

Let me conduct a quiz: no, it’s already there in the list of events.

A crossword: no, it’s been done already.

A collage: no, it’s quite old now.

Something fresh, untried and enthralling event. Racking my brain for a long time triggered my creative neurons. “Animals build their nests with things they find around without spending any penny. Evolutionary history says, we humans have copied the art of building from ants, bees and other species. They are rightly called as ‘biological architectures’.

Can we humans build a nest how a weaver bird builds? Can we make a bee-comb like honey bees? Well let’s try mimicking them and attain knowledge about their nesting behaviours. Let’s name this contest as ‘nidification’ (process of building nest).

Making of nidification:

Students were made into different groups, each group had two contestants. The contestants were allowed to select an animal species, say for example a weaver bird. Now the contestants should build a nest similar to how a weaver builds its nest and present it describing their nesting behavior (Contestants can prepare it at home and assemble it on stage). The shape, structure, materials and the nesting behavior were the essence of the contest. The recipe which had all these essence with its originality retained will be selected as the best.

Well let’s see how our young minds have put this concept into action. 

    1. Nest of paradise fly catcher:

Making of paradise fly catcher nest:

Step 1: Twigs are collected and woven on a small cup to give it a perfect shape (use glue to stick it)

Step 2: Make a fly catcher doll using old newspaper and paint it.

Step 3: Seal the nest with straws and cotton to give a natural look

Step 4: Fix it to a stick and display.

2. Nest of black kite:

The nests are built with straws and twigs resembling a wide basket. Male kites decorate the nests with plastics to attract females and show its sophistication. 

3. Nest of blue bird:

Cup shaped nest made of fine grass, sealed with cellophane tape.

4. Nest of red vented bulbul:

Cup shaped nest made of twigs and straws. Refer http://whatsaroudus.blogspot.com/2018/07/whosqueek-kaying-on-my-christmas-tree.html for more information

5. Nest of Ploceus velatus

Fresh grasses are used resembles a ‘tear drop’ shape.

6. Nest of caddish fly larva:

The caddish fly larvae builds a thick envelop around its body to stay protected from predators. Here in this model all-purpose flour is used to make the case and given artistic touch to resemble the original nest. 

7. Nest of organ pipe mud-dwellers:

The female wasps builds tube shaped nests with mud before laying eggs, the tubes look striped outside and smooth inside. The eggs are laid inside these tubes and nurse them. In this model is made using chart papers and cardboard.

8. Spider web:

Spiders secrete proteinaceous silk fibers and create webs around them. In this model the web is built using twine. 

That was fabulous isn’t, it? Yes, I know you will be guessing who the winner is. I think you guessed it right; it’s none other than the ‘nest of paradise fly catcher’. The winning model resembled the original nest build with all its behaviours clearly projected.

 Well this contest will be remembered long for its peculiarity and innovations. This contest can be a better option if you are thinking about a cost effective, creative and scientific event for your school or college programs. The nests made by these students were kept in laboratory for display, since they are all made of dried twigs and straws one can keep it for long time. Some of these nests can also be used by the birds especially swallows and help in their conservations. But most of the birds do not prefer human made nests for their breeding; further studies have to be conducted on these fields for more information. It is not so astonishing if I say that we humans have cultivated the art of building from the animals, hence they are referred as 'biological architectures'. Kindly leave your feedbacks and suggestions in the comment box.

A special thanks to Jain College principal, staff and students.