Ask A Scientist: Ben Marks Answers Your Questions!
By Marielle Shaw in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 12, 2014 9:40PM
Photo Credit: Marielle Shaw
Last month, we introduced you to a new series here at Chicagoist: Ask A Scientist. We met the Head of Zoological Collections and Birds Collection Manager for the Field Museum, Ben Marks. Ben told us some great stories about his lifelong interest in birds and his continuing field work in the tropical rainforests of Africa.
Then we asked you to submit your own questions to Ben. We collected your submissions and sent them to him.
Enjoy the science, folks, and be on the lookout for the next installment, when we'll introduce a new scientist to you, tell you a little bit more about who they are and what they do at the Field, and ask you for your questions once again!
Douglas MacAyeal: “How can Linda and I put out a bird feeder that will help the migration, feed the locals, but not attract criticism from neighbors? We live in a high rise in Hyde Park...”
BEN MARKS: Neighbors can be fussy, and it is true that there will always be some level of messiness associated with bird feeders. Perhaps the best solution would be to use a hummingbird feeder, or suet rather than a seed feeder. That way, you could still feed birds but there wouldn't be the mess of shed seed husks that could disturb your neighbors or attract rodents.
Blake Danburry: If I wanted to get into birding, where’s the best place in the city to start? I have a pet cockatiel, and I’d love to learn more about her native cousin species?
Excogito: The new Maggie Daley Park (North Grant Park) will have 1,000 trees which are native to the area. I would like to put bird houses in these trees. Ben, would the Field Museum be a place to help start this? And with your help we could make this park a great birding area. I live on the 19th floor of a high rise and one day I looked out and had a red tail hawk sitting on my window ledge. It was so awesome and it reminds me that there is a place for birding right in the heart of the city. How would you suggest we start a birding movement for the park?
(As seen above, several of you asked great questions about local birds and birding. In this answer, Ben addresses several great resources for those interested in birding and in the local birds around them)
BEN MARKS: Chicago is an amazing city for birds and there are many groups that are dedicated to promoting bird conservation and bird watching in the city. Most people think of pigeons, crows, and gulls when they think of birds in Chicago; but there is actually an amazing diversity of birds (sparrows, warblers, thrushes, etc.) that can be seen here throughout the year.
Migrating birds pass through Chicago twice a year en route to their breeding or wintering territories. I like to think birds are the ideal way to connect to the natural world around you. When you see your first Indigo Bunting, you’ll probably never stop looking for them.
As far as the best spots for birding in the city, the interconnected Palos Forest Preserves in SW Cook Co are great for breeding birds and any of the lakefront parks from Montrose Harbor south to Jackson Park provide great settings for bird watching. There are even guided bird walks every week that are organized by Chicago Ornithological Society and
Chicago Audubon Society [find information at chicagobirder.org and chicagoaudubon.org]. If you’re young (between 10 and 18), or if you have children who are interested in birds there’s a group called Illinois Young Birders that organizes monthly birding trips around the region
If you’re in the suburbs of Chicago there are also plenty of options that can be found by searching the internet for “Chicago area bird clubs”. Go buy a field guide or download an app for birds, find those old binoculars in the basement, and get outside; you’ll be amazed at what you see!
A_Ansfield- What is learned from the specimens gathered- what research is done on birds who are dead?
BEN MARKS: The bird specimens at Field Museum of Natural History are used in so many ways... Every bird specimen in our collection has two basic pieces of information that make them valuable as scientific specimens; where and when they were found. As long as we know these two things the specimen serves as documentation for that species occurring at that place at that time of year. Many of the oldest specimens in our collection have only these data.
Modern specimens have so much more information associated with them that make them valuable for an amazing array of scientific investigations. Our primary mission is to provide scientists and educators with materials that will enhance their research and education programs and promote interest in the natural world.
Our collections are used by FMNH staff and graduate students in their studies. We also send specimens to researchers around the world who use them for their projects and send them back when they’re finished. We send about 150 loans of bird specimens every year. Beyond the myriad of scientific uses for these specimens we also want to develop an appreciation for the natural world in non-scientists.
Artists routinely visit the collection to get up close to specimens for paintings, sculptures, and photographic art. We feel that there’s no better avenue to engage and inspire the non-scientific public than through beautifully done artwork. For example, check out some of the paintings by our very own Artist-in-residence; Peggy Macnamara who has been drawing inspiration (no pun intended) from our collection for over 20 years.
We want to thank Ben for letting us in on his work at the Field Museum, and look forward to introducing you to the work of his colleagues with our next installment.