Nature in the City (London)

Nature in the City is a six–part series of illustrated talks on nature within the City of London. It's run by Nature London and held at the City Library over the winter months. Here's the lineup they had for the last winter (2010)!

January 18
TALKING TURKEY: Fun Facts and More

January 25
INVASIVE PLANTS: When Newcomers Get Too Pushy
(Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority)

February 1
THE ELUSIVE BADGER: Playing a Game of “Where’s Waldo?”
(Ministry of Natural Resources)

February 8
YEASTS IN THE CITY: A Soap Opera of Villains and Innocents
(UWO Biology Department)

February 15
THE BUZZ ON SOCIAL INSECTS: Honey Bees and Friends

February 22
MEADOWLILY NATURE PRESERVE: Challenges and Benefits of Urban Nature Reserves
(Thames Talbot Land Trust)

* Image from Nature in the City website

bird skyscraper design (Chicago)

Found Online:

September 17, 2009

A skyscraper for the birds: Aqua gets an award from animal rights group

Chicago architect Jeanne Gang's 82-story Aqua tower (left) isn't done yet, but PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is giving Gang and her firm, Studio Gang Architects, an award for the bird-friendly design of Aqua. The group says that birds are less likely to kill themselves flying into Aqua's windows because of the skyscraper undulating curves and because its exterior glass is etched with marks that birds will be able to see.

"The American architect Louis Sullivan coined the phrase 'form follows function,'" PETA's president, Ingrid Newkirk, says in a news release. "In the Aqua Tower, form follows compassion."