The absence of birds is due to the presence of predators

Reporoa College

Year 8, 2007

What is Special About New Zealand's Forests

Forests of Life Inquiry: Reporoa College

Big Idea: The Uniqueness New Zealand’s forests

Immersion

Five immersion activities were undertaken

1. Posters and reflection on student forest values
2. Photo study on different life forms in a forests
3. Video portion on species extiinction
4. Visit from Scion and Department of Conservation - Wild South video and Stuffed extinct birds
5. Forest Field Trip and post field trip activities

Focusing the Inquiry

From a wide range of questions the class came to

"Why didn't we see any creatures [in the forest when we visited]?"

and this was further restricited to:

What is preying on our native birds?

the hypothesis developed was

"The absence of birds noted when visiting the forest is due to the presence of predators detrimentally affecting the populations."

A sub hypothesis was developed in order to create a method for the detection of predators.

Investigation

The Forests of Life infra-red camera, and a digital video recorder was set up in a piece of bush, with baits of minced chicken, raw egg, apple and peanut butter.

The video ran for 2 nights, and was using as motion detection method, so that it only recorded when something moved.

On the first night the video recorded lots of movement - branches, ferns and grass blowing in the wind.

The next night, the sensistivity of detection was reduced and some animals were recorded.

A Student's View of the Inquiry