"A genuine, detailed specification of the circuit logic of human nature 
is expected to become the theoretical centerpiece of a newly 
reconstituted set of social sciences, because each model of an evolved 
psychological mechanism makes predictions about the psychological, 
behavioral, and social phenomena the circuits generate or influence. 
(For example, the evolutionarily specialized mechanisms underlying human 
alliance help to explain phenomena such as racism and group dynamics; 
Kurzban, Tooby, & Cosmides, 2001.) A growing inventory of such models 
will catalyze the transformation of the social sciences from fields that 
are predominantly descriptive, soft, and particularistic into 
theoretically principled scientific disciplines with genuine predictive 
and explanatory power. Evolutionary psychology in the narrow sense is 
the scientific project of mapping our evolved psychological mechanisms; 
in the broad sense, it includes the project of reformulating and 
expanding the social sciences (and medical sciences) in light of the 
progressive mapping of our species' evolved architecture." -- John Tooby 
& Leda Cosmides, Conceptual Foundations of Evolutionary Psychology, chap 
1, p 6, The Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology, ed David W. Buss, John 
Wiley and Sons, 2005. http://tinyurl.com/czm7rr

I was looking for background on theories of prospect and refuge. It 
seems particularly relevant to current times, and to Torre from which to 
look out at the predatory birds.

"PROSPECT-REFUGE THEORY

One of the more prominent contributions in this vein is Appleton's 
(1975). Based on his analyses of landscape paintings, Appleton concluded 
that landscapes with high attraction value contained a balance between 
prospect and refuge features. Prospect features such as elevated 
landforms provide an overall view of the landscape and facilitate the 
search for fowl, water, and prey. Refuge features such as groupings of 
trees permit the individual to see without being seen and function 
mainly in the interests of security. In this theory, the most important 
aspect of the habitat is the spatial arrangement of environmental 
attributes, that is, land- forms, trees, open spaces, and water, 
inasmuch as their arrangement determines whether prospect and refuge 
opportunities can be effectively utilized.

Attempts to test Appleton's theory by means of comparative landscape 
judgments have yielded equivocal results (e.g., Clamp & Powell, 1982; 
Heyligers, 1981), which is likely a function of the variation of 
possible spatial arrangements of prospect and refuge features (Appleton, 
1988). Supporting data for the theory were obtained by Mealey and Theis 
(1995), however, based on their contention that the relative attraction 
value of prospect and refuge should vary within individuals in 
accordance with their moods. Positive moods, they maintained, would 
induce a need to explore and take risks for the sake of future benefits 
and would thus be associated with prospect. Negative moods would give 
rise to a need for security and rest and would thereby be associated 
with refuge. As predicted, subjects reporting positive moods preferred 
landscapes with vast expanses and overviews, while subjects reporting 
mood dysphoria preferred landscapes with enclosed, protected spaces." -- 
Locating Places, Irwin Silverman and Jean Choi, chap 6, p 192,The 
Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology, ed David W. Buss, John Wiley and 
Sons, 2005.

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