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Broadcast News
Subjects: Language Arts (Communications), Science (Animal Management),
History, Fine Arts
Location: Classroom
Grade Level: 5-8 (may be adapted for elementary or high school groups)
Activity Type: Post-Electronic Field Trip
OBJECTIVES
The student will
- Discuss the importance of accurate and non-biased news reporting.
- Research history, status, major threats, and management activities
pertaining to the trumpeter swans of Yellowstone National Park.
- Present news broadcast on the trumpeter swan.
BACKGROUND
Trumpeter swans were once widespread across much of North America.
Beginning in the 1700s, they were widely hunted for their commercial
value. They also suffered severe loss of their habitat. By 1900, they
were nearly extinct. A small group of these birds survived in the wilderness
of the Yellowstone region. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act was passed
in 1918, officially protecting trumpeter swans outside of Yellowstone
National Park. Red Rocks Lake National Wildlife Refuge, to the west
of Yellowstone National Park, was established in 1935 to offer further
protection for these remaining swans and their breeding area. From 1935
to 1952, the trumpeter swans were fed grain during the winter at this
refuge. As the population of trumpeters began to recover, the refuge
became an important source of trumpeter swans for reintroduction to
other parts of the country. In the 1950s, another large population of
trumpeter swans was discovered in Alaska, easing the fear that this
species was threatened with extinction.
Given suitable wetland homes and protection from hunting pressures,
the trumpeter numbers have rebounded. However, in Yellowstone National
Park, the number of resident swans is declining. There are several reasons
for this. The Yellowstone population has depended on recruitment of
other swans from areas to the west of the park. Today this seldom occurs
and if a Yellowstone resident swan is killed, very few swans remain
to replace it and maintain the population. Also eggs often fail to hatch
or cygnets fail to reach adulthood due to predators, destruction of
nest sites, or disturbances during incubation. Thirdly, there is a fixed
amount of available winter habitat in Yellowstone which resident swans
must share with a large number of migratory waterfowl. The result can
be overcrowding, which, in turn, depletes the available food supply.
PROCEDURE
Following the electronic field trip, the teacher will
- Read aloud the background section of this lesson.
- Provide an opportunity for students to research trumpeter swan history,
decline, recovery, and current management strategies in Yellowstone
National Park.
- Lead a discussion about the importance of accurate and unbiased
broadcasting.
- Divide students into small groups and have each group prepare a
news broadcast about trumpeter swans. The broadcast might include
news bulletins, sports sections (describing swan flying, wooing, or
feeding antics, human hunting activities, wildlife photography, etc.),
commercials (featuring possible uses of swan plumage or meat), "swan
interest stories", and interviews with a "swan expert"
(another student should serve in this capacity.) The information presented
by the groups should be documented and accurate.
- Invite each group to present their broadcast to the rest of the
class.
EXTENSION
- Encourage students to present other broadcasts on
Yellowstone wildlife. Use the bear and wolf electronic field trips
for background information.
- Instruct students to prepare a second broadcast,
greatly exaggerating various aspects of their reports. Compare and
contrast with the first broadcast.
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