Our investigation hopes to show the nuanced relationship between human and non-human agents in an urban environment. By focusing on dogs, trees, and birds we are able to observe behaviors of non-human agents at different tactile scales, sectional levels, and time scales. We have observed that this relationship is not just physical but also has an emotional quality that is undeniably defining in our personal urban environments.

The main difference between the birds and dogs that we have observed is how their behavior patterns are controlled. Dogs in New York City are kept as pets, legally registered, and kept on a leash. They are dependent on their human owners for their place in the city and their behavior is largely determined by humans as well. There are cities which have stray dogs as a part of their subnature, but New York is not one of them. Birds on the other hand have co-opted urban space of their own accord.

By observing the behaviors of these birds and their relationships between each other and with humans, the role of peripheral urban nature gains clarity and importance. Because of this, humans do not have direct control over their behaviors. You’ll see signs saying no dogs allowed, but anti-bird measures are more architectural, manifesting as spikes on window sills.

Our project brings to light the importance of having spaces designed for non-human agents in a city made for humans. This would allow for an increase in quality of life for these non-human agents, and as a result, an increase in human quality of life.  

Interconnections are brought to the surface through the sectional perspective. Birds and dogs both have a relationship with the ground. While dogs are closer to the ground than humans are, birds fluctuate between the different zones, whether it be in the sky, the trunks of trees, or the ground. In the dog zone, elements such as the fire hydrant, the gate, and the tree make up the dog’s environment. Similarly to the dog, birds also have a relationship with trees, however it extends past the trunk to the uppermost part of the tree using foliage as shelter and food.

We wanted to explore the relationship that birds and dogs have with time, both through daily and seasonal means. Birds have an immediate connection with trees, since it provides them with shelter. This shows how birds have less tree visibility in the winter, which leads them to migrate towards a warmer climate. For dogs, the time component is found through a daily experience, which shows how dogs are more active on the streets between 8am-11am and 6pm-9pm.