The Whale Bird
THE WHALE BIRD It has been said that a species of birds that has one of natureÕs most unusual life cycles starts its life in the deepest parts of earthÕs ocean floors.
The mature Whale Bird lays its egg into the ocean instead of building a nest on land. The egg sinks until, at great depths, the pressure of the deep water cracks the egg, and thus, automatically hatches a tiny, slightly humped back fish. As this fish matures, it drifts slowly upward toward the surface of the ocean.
Eventually, as the fish rises and approaches the surface, diminished ocean pressure causes the humped back to become more pronounced. Other physiological changes take place until at last, 12 months after being hatched, the fish reaches the surface, turns into a bird, and flies off to start the cycle over again.
Because of its unusual life cycle, this species has often been nicknamed the Whale Bird.
Idea Sketch (Pen and Ink 3 x 4.25 inch) This small sketch was the idea seed for the l9.5 x 25.5 finished drawing, Shopping Cart Robots.
The following narrative goes with this pen and ink drawing.