The Bird Nest Generator is a digital life drawing machine that studies the form of bird’s nests. The concept was informed from a nature walk through the rainforest, inspired by the rich biodiversity of bird species in the region.

Life drawings have always been a crucial tool for biologists dating back centuries. Not only does it force the observer to notice details they’d otherwise overlook, it also helps them to more deeply appreciate how nature works.
By translating the form of a bird’s nest into a drawing through pencil, ink, a motor circuit, and controlled randomness, this project seeks to capture the organic motion inherent in a seemingly static object. It is a small study of how natural observation can remove the disconnect between nature and digital design.

This project was developed in one afternoon in a series of explorations into circuitry and biological inquiry.