Area scientists at play: Studying problems with local birds, wildlife

Scientists are an interesting group of people. They deal with the unknown and use what is called the 'scientific method" to solve intricate problems.

The system is simple.

It starts with a statement (it can be either positive or negative), but the statement represents what the scientific researcher is either going to prove or disprove. It is sometimes called the "hypothesis."

To use birdhouses as an example, the scientist might pose the hypothesis that birdhouses within 20 feet of a dusty road will not attract birds. Obviously, the scientist will put up a birdhouse at 20 feet.

This would be the "test" treatment.

It is also necessary to have a "control" (controls can be positive, negative or both).

In our example, a negative control might be a birdhouse that is a long distance from the road.

The final concept is that of replication. It is not sufficient to merely set up a small study. It must repeated 'replicated) many times over to assure that the results can be duplicated.

There are many mathematical techniques 'statistics' to allow evaluation of the results based on data collected.

Sometimes scientists (for fun or for personal pleasure), will apply their talents to local problems with wildlife.

Two nameless scientists have established homes in the Flathead Valley and are initiating research programs to better understand wildlife problems.

They previously worked together at a mid-western university but both have many years of relations with the Flathead Valley.

For 22 years, the first has owned 18 acres of farmland, located between Somers and Lakeside.

He installed 25 bluebird houses 17 years ago.

This is the reason I used birdhouses in the example of the scientific approach.

The second scientist purchased 31 acres of woodland, in the Lone Pine area, five years ago. That land has been declared a certified woodland.

He has installed 31 birdhouses and is shooting for 100.

Last year the two agreed to combine their scientific talents and two land areas to answer scientific questions about bird care and management between bird species and examine some common problems with Flathead birds relative to migration, bee contamination and interaction with other animals and humans. Stay tuned for signs of progress.

Actually the increase in human population throughout the United States has resulted in some increased wildlife populations in urban areas.

This has resulted from cut lawns, the tendency of humans to feed wild creatures and the availability of human foods. Birds are the most obvious example but others exist.

Some are not desirable (bears' but others enhance our wildlife environment.

A whole new field of science called "urban biology" studies animal and human interactions.

Dr. Paul Curtis is an urban wildlife scientist from Cornell University and has emphasized that in 1930 the U.S. white-tailed deer population was 300,000.

Today it is more than 30 million.

The Flathead Valley deer population is one of the most dense in the United States.

Dr. Stan Gehrt, of the Ohio State University, has spent the last seven years radio-collaring and tracking coyotes around Chicago studying habitat use patterns, densities and population dynamics.

The opportunities for enjoyable scientific research are readily available, especially in the Flathead Valley.

Dukelow is a resident of Somers.