― Architecture Showcase ⇒ Under The Bridge Architecture - Some By Human and Some Not

[minniev]

I couldn't find the right place for these, taken under a local highway bridge this morning. All of them are architecture but two of them are not built entirely by human architects. I expect the winged and feathered builders have been perfecting their designs longer than the bridge designers have though.

[PietFrancke]

Pretty interesting shots with a good theme. I like the red counterpunch in the reflection shot.

I assume the bottom one is a bird nest?

The top one I am more familiar with. Those wasps capture spiders and paralyze them stuff them in there. Then the wasp larvae eat the spiders alive. This is about the most gruesome "nature" thing that I am aware of. These are very typical under decks up against cement/cinderblock walls. I peeled some off once and photographed macro spider legs stuffed together - that shot I called "catacombs"...

[Charles Haacker]

They are all good, fascinating pictures. I think the third is a swallow's nest. I've seen them in clusters sometimes. At first I thought the first one was also swallows until Piet mentioned wasps. I immediately looked up (how did we live before the internet) mud daubers and there they were, more than one type but yours prominent among them. The middle one is captivating with its wonderfully wiggly reflections and the single bright red bobber calmly floating in the slack water. Lovely set!

[minniev]

Pretty interesting shots with a good theme. I like the red counterpunch in the reflection shot.

I assume the bottom one is a bird nest?

The top one I am more familiar with. Those wasps capture spiders and paralyze them stuff them in there. Then the wasp larvae eat the spiders alive. This is about the most gruesome "nature" thing that I am aware of. These are very typical under decks up against cement/cinderblock walls. I peeled some off once and photographed macro spider legs stuffed together - that shot I called "catacombs"...

Thanks Piet. I liked that little bobber too. The bottom one is a swallow's next I think. I remember catacombs! I will have to revisit it for another look. Nature can be pretty gruesome indeed. I expect Mrs. Spider would do the same to the dirt daubers if she had the opportunity. After all, think what she does to her own husband.

[minniev]

They are all good, fascinating pictures. I think the third is a swallow's nest. I've seen them in clusters sometimes. At first I thought the first one was also swallows until Piet mentioned wasps. I immediately looked up (how did we live before the internet) mud daubers and there they were, more than one type but yours prominent among them. The middle one is captivating with its wonderfully wiggly reflections and the single bright red bobber calmly floating in the slack water. Lovely set!

Thanks Chuck. Yes, the last is a swallow's next, common under the bridges. The elements of their architecture is so fascinating, and has much in common with things humans build - symmetry, pattern, shape, balance.

[LindaShorey]

The theme is fascinating and would be great fun to do as a challenge or share thread. Both cliff swallows and barn swallows build mud nests under eaves and bridges (and other structures). I've seen nest colonies here packed together by the dozens. Your reflection shot is very enjoyable - a great example of how interest can be elevated by inclusion of even a tiny additional element - especially if red

[minniev]

The theme is fascinating and would be great fun to do as a challenge or share thread. Both cliff swallows and barn swallows build mud nests under eaves and bridges (and other structures). I've seen nest colonies here packed together by the dozens. Your reflection shot is very enjoyable - a great example of how interest can be elevated by inclusion of even a tiny additional element - especially if red

Gal you liked 'em Linda. We don't see the big clusters here like I've seen out west, ours are usually singles like this, with an occasional duplex. I don't know exactly which type of swallow is responsible. You would think I should know more about birds than I do, given that I'm doing this project, but past the herons and egrets, I have to look em up!

[St3v3M]

This is an interesting theme but you know I like the bobber the best. There's such a story there it makes me want to know more.

Thank you for adding these here! S-

[rmalarz]

Minnie, though all are well done, the middle one is the attention getter. The very small bit of sharply focused color really stands out within the frame of the photograph.
--Bob