The beings in question are human-sized that instinctively build nests when they are ready to have kids. The nests are similar to a drey but with the opening on top, like a bird's nest, and are roughly the size of a bed. Naturally, they are used as cribs once the babies are born, and are used while trying to conceive beforehand. They are naturally built in sheltered places on the ground (under a tree, for example). They can also use and create technology like humans. Would their use of technology affect their nests, and if so how would the nests be different?
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asked Sep 9, 2021 at 21:52
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4$\begingroup$ With power tools, of course! :-) $\endgroup$– ShadoCatCommented Sep 10, 2021 at 0:44
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$\begingroup$ It could be that nest building is still really important in social contexts, especially romantic contexts. We humans have quite a few traditions (that vary from culture to culture) which we do not abandon, despite some being not very "smart" (i.e. useful) - but you can still enjoy them ;-). $\endgroup$– Make42Commented Sep 10, 2021 at 21:23
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$\begingroup$ Could they be "bird people" (humanoid birds)? Or it could be just art/aesthetics like in this article. $\endgroup$– ermanenCommented Sep 10, 2021 at 21:47
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$\begingroup$ @0.. It's an instinctual thing $\endgroup$– Ichthys KingCommented Sep 10, 2021 at 21:56
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$\begingroup$ i assume their biology is just like human right? $\endgroup$– Li JunCommented Sep 11, 2021 at 5:36
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2 Answers
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Instinctual behavior is bad for smart. Birds that are precocial and know to do things as soon as they are hatched are dumber than those that are born helpless.
Your beings would have evolved a culture of nest building, which is very conservative because your bright idea might kill your baby. Still, it will develop with two main pressures: less labor, however you measure it, and works better.
Permanent structures are build once, use many times, which allows you to,preserve good ideas and not pay/build again, as long as basic sanitation measure are feasible. Furthermore, sheltered locations can be built and not just looked for.
Probably as soon as specialists are feasible, there will be nest builders and nest cleaners. In the early days, this might even be a magical or religious role, to protect the young.
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As intelligent beings, they will, like us, have long since abandoned (or, if you will, supressed or modified) their instincts for civilized behaviour. They will buy their nests at Ikea.
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6$\begingroup$ Still, nest building should be a #1 crafting hobby among them ;) $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 9, 2021 at 22:43
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7$\begingroup$ And they'll also have entire sections of media dedicated to nests such as Extraordinary Nests, Nest Brothers, Extreme Makeover: Nest Edition, the famous magazine Nesting Digest, plus plenty of social media accounts dedicated to the subject $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 10, 2021 at 7:05