Updates from the Field

Activities: Field Work in the Tundra

Science: Studying Animal Behavior

In "Field Work in the Tundra" Masha describes her observations of a Siberian Crane pair on their breeding grounds in northern Yakutia. As she observes the pairs' daily routine, she records their behaviors, noting the birds' appearance, how long each bird sits on the nest, what they eat, and where they find their food. Through the study of animal behavior, or ethology, we learn how animals interact with each other and their environment. These studies, in turn, inform our decisions about protecting wildlife and their habitats.

Now it is your turn to be an ethologist (a scientist you studies animal behavior)! Use the Behavior Study Data Sheet (click on the image to the right to download the worksheet) to record your observations of an animal near your home or school. You may choose to record the behaviors of a song bird at a feeder, a squirrel in a park, a pet at home, or an animal at a local zoo. Before you begin your observations, discuss as a class what type of behaviors you might observe and decide on the length of time for your behavior study (5-10 minutes is a suggested length for your study). After you finish your observations, think about the purpose of the behaviors that you observed, and add your ideas to your data sheet. For example, if you observed a Chickadee at a feeder, you may note that the bird repeatedly flies to the feeder, picks up a seed, and flies to a nearby tree. Why is the bird flying to the tree rather than simply staying at the feeder?

Discussion

During your behavior study, you may have been able to answer a few simple questions about the animal you observed. Through long-term studies, however, researchers can answer more complicated questions about wildlife, such as whether a behavior is learned or genetic (inherited from its parents) or if an animal's behavior can change to meet the demands of a changing environment? Discuss as a class why this second question is important in the study of endangered species, such as the Siberian or Whooping Crane, and how you, as an ethologist, would design a study to examine this question.