Case of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker
1. What is the major conflict between Brad and Mary in terms of the scientific process? Make a list of Brad's arguments and valid pieces of evidence and Mary's response to each.
Brad Argument: Some of our guys are the top birders in North America and have spent years trying to find an Ivory-bill. They saw the white trailing wing patches characteristic of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker. We have more than 17,000 hours of sound recordings that include some Kent calls typical for Ivory-bills. Ivory-bill fly by anywhere from 15- 150 m away! We can't wait until we have searched the entire 550,000 acres in the Big Wood area: that would take years.
Mary Response:All I can see is a flapping black and white bird. How can you be sure it is an Ivory-bill? Why is not a Pileated Woodpecker? They have big white patches on the underside of their wings. Your recording may sound just like an Ivory-billed Woodpecker, but guess what: blue jays and nuthatches can also make Kent calls. Fame is more important that good science? Millions of dollars will be spent protecting a phantom bird, millions that will not be available for the protection of other endangered species. Saw the last bird before it flew off into the thicket and died, making the species, finally, extinct!
Brad Argument: Some of our guys are the top birders in North America and have spent years trying to find an Ivory-bill. They saw the white trailing wing patches characteristic of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker. We have more than 17,000 hours of sound recordings that include some Kent calls typical for Ivory-bills. Ivory-bill fly by anywhere from 15- 150 m away! We can't wait until we have searched the entire 550,000 acres in the Big Wood area: that would take years.
Mary Response:All I can see is a flapping black and white bird. How can you be sure it is an Ivory-bill? Why is not a Pileated Woodpecker? They have big white patches on the underside of their wings. Your recording may sound just like an Ivory-billed Woodpecker, but guess what: blue jays and nuthatches can also make Kent calls. Fame is more important that good science? Millions of dollars will be spent protecting a phantom bird, millions that will not be available for the protection of other endangered species. Saw the last bird before it flew off into the thicket and died, making the species, finally, extinct!
2. What do you think about Brad's concern that by waiting with the announcement they could miss their chance to save the birds?
I agree with Brad that by waiting with the announcement they could miss their chance to save the birds because maybe Ivory-bill didn't extinct anymore or still extinct. By the time he searching for the announcement he can go to forest and finding some Ivory-bill.
I agree with Brad that by waiting with the announcement they could miss their chance to save the birds because maybe Ivory-bill didn't extinct anymore or still extinct. By the time he searching for the announcement he can go to forest and finding some Ivory-bill.
3. Imagine you are the owner of a company that owns the logging rights adjacent to the area of the woodpecker sightings, or a biologist trying to protect the habitat of another endangered species in another part of the state. Do you think that they would be satisfied with the same amount of evidence in this case as Brad? Why/Why not?
I satisfied with the same amount of evidence in this cases as Brad but if they can, they have to find some more evidence about the Ivory-bill still extinct or not. So they can support their announcement.
4.What is the right amount of evidence? How can you determine the answer to that question?
I think the right amount of evidence is some videos, pictures, and also DNA too.
5. Give other examples of public discourse, policy decisions, or controversial issues where your insights from this case could be applied.
Islam and women: surveying the Academic Debate
6 and 7 are the same: Decide how much evidence you would need to accept the claim that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker not extinct.
Need some more videos about Ivory-bill Woodpecker, also some of the picture about it and the most important thing is DNA of it.
8. Put yourself in Brad's position-what would you have told the reporter?
If I'm is Brad's position I will tell every body that all the information about Ivory-bill couldn't saw to everyone.
9. Does it matter to you who presents the evidence?
yes, it does matter if some of the scientist say that it just a thought so it gonna be better.
10. Who presented the evidence in the real Ivory-billed Woodpecker case (who was present at the press conference)?
Brad presented the evidence in the real Ivory-bill Woodpecker case.
I satisfied with the same amount of evidence in this cases as Brad but if they can, they have to find some more evidence about the Ivory-bill still extinct or not. So they can support their announcement.
4.What is the right amount of evidence? How can you determine the answer to that question?
I think the right amount of evidence is some videos, pictures, and also DNA too.
5. Give other examples of public discourse, policy decisions, or controversial issues where your insights from this case could be applied.
Islam and women: surveying the Academic Debate
6 and 7 are the same: Decide how much evidence you would need to accept the claim that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker not extinct.
Need some more videos about Ivory-bill Woodpecker, also some of the picture about it and the most important thing is DNA of it.
8. Put yourself in Brad's position-what would you have told the reporter?
If I'm is Brad's position I will tell every body that all the information about Ivory-bill couldn't saw to everyone.
9. Does it matter to you who presents the evidence?
yes, it does matter if some of the scientist say that it just a thought so it gonna be better.
10. Who presented the evidence in the real Ivory-billed Woodpecker case (who was present at the press conference)?
Brad presented the evidence in the real Ivory-bill Woodpecker case.