From the Flyway to Urban Landings

Abstract

This thesis aims to study ecological design through the exploration of migratory bird habitat expansion in cities in the context of climate change. The thesis begins with a literature review of basic understanding of the Pacific Flyway and widely accepted theories and landscape architectural principles, and then selects three target species as examples of analyzing the missing ecosystem functions in the city, as well as urban landscapes that can be upgraded depending on typological studies of urban environments. Along the Pacific Flyway, and through a close analysis of migratory species assessing prioritization for conservation and life history, I have selected three that I think could be most benefited from thoughtful design changes to the urban environment. I choose five common waterfront typologies in the Puget Lowland, and the Pacific Northwest (west to the Cascade) to discuss opportunities for possible bird conservation interventions. They are open spaces along freshwater lake shorelines, feeder bluffs/sediment-rich coastlines, coastal open landscapes, overwater structures, and riverine zones. Target species intersect with urban waterfront typologies to generate ecological design prototypes. Twelve prototypes with design characteristics are identified based on the typology-species matrix.