2/4 Feedback: After our first in-class critique, I got great feedback from the TAs and professor. The professor mentioned that it might be difficult to get the physics to cooperate in order to pull off a working prototype, but he challenged me to see if I can make a design that mimics the bird "bobbing" behavior. He recommended experimenting with cardboard and other types of materials to determine what forces I'd be working against. 

Bird in Action

For additional advice, I also consulted friends who had taken advanced fabrication in the School of Drama. Something they mentioned that could be of use would be an adjustable counterweight that slides up and down the back of the bird, allowing the bird to adjust to the weight or become flexible enough to perform a "bobbing" behavior. The sliding counterweight would be similar to that of an old school balance. 

Something similar to this ^