Theo Schaad

Dodeca Doves is named after the underlying rhombic dodecahedron (twelve birds on twelve faces). The rhombs are a good starting point to create birds that interlock. Of course, one could not lay them on a periodic 2D grid, but the customary layout of a polyhedral net (often used to construct the models) would show that the figures match when two faces are adjacent. The rhombic dodecahedron has some interesting symmetries which are in part reflected by the birds. For instance, the heads or tails can occupy the eight vertices with three-fold rotational symmetry. The six vertices with four faces are in two-fold rotational symmetry, each touched by two left and two right wings. The best place for the model is in partial sun with some light wind.