How to Be a Field Biologist
How to Be a Field Biologist
By Joanna Seirup
This project, designed by Mr. James, a biology teacher and refined byhis students, came to us via a kids' science camp...
Biologists -- scientists who study living organisms -- are constantlylearning new things about our environment. You can help them, bypicking an area in your neighborhood (a park, a field or a vacant lot)and becoming the world's greatest authority on that particular place.Begin by giving it a great name, if it doesn't already have one. Next,make a map. (see pg.?) Draw in all of the natural features (trees,creeks, hills and rock outcroppings) along with some of the man-madeones.
Keep a record: One of themost important things a scientist does is to make repeated experimentsand keep a careful record of the results. For instance, you could do astudy of the birds in your area. With a compass in one hand and a pen inthe other, sit quietly in your study area and watch the flight-lines ofpassing birds for exactly one-half hour. Using a field guidebook, doyour best to identify the species. After noting the date, time,temperature and weather conditions of this particular observation, writedown the direction they're flying, and keep notes on their behavior inyour study area. Are they singing? Chasing after one another? Foragingfor food? Once you have this info, the important thing is to repeatthis same experiment at other times throughout the year. When you'vecollected a year's worth of data, you might want to contact your localParks Department or Audobon Society. Chances are, someone will beinterested in all your hard work. You can do these kinds of experimentsobserving plants, insects, woodland mammals (squirrels, chipmunks,etc.). You can even observe the behavior of the humans who share thispiece of ground.
You could become the world's greatest expert on your particular studyspot. Someday, someone may want to build a brand new mall in your studyarea. Your research might be invaluable in helping people to make thebest possible decisions. If you enjoy this kind of research, there aremany exciting jobs - studying toucans in the Amazon Basin or polar bearsin Arctic Alaska - that could take you all over the world!
Get in touch with the National Geographic, National Audobon Society oryour local Dept. of Fish and Game.
Copyright 1998 Real Life Publishing LLC. All rights reserved.