Name:______Partners:______

Lab Activity Answer Key: Impact of Oil on Bird Feathers

Question What is the best way to clean birds after an oil spill?

Materials

5 clean dry feathers

1 piece of paper

Vegetable cooking oil

Shallow pan or bowl/plate

Sink and faucet

Liquid dishwashing detergent

Paper towels

Magnifying glass (optional)

Safety Do not get oil in your eyes. Clean-up spilled oil, water and dishwashing detergent

immediately.

Directions Read all directions thoroughly BEFORE doing them.

1. Record your hypothesis for this experiment below on the data sheet.

2. You will need a piece of paper divided into 5 sections. Label the sections:

Wet feather, Oily feather, Paper, Water, and Detergent. This will be your

evaluation area where you will rate the results of your cleaning.

3. Count out 5 clean dry feathers.

4. Fill your plastic cup ½ full with tap water.

5. Take one feather and move it through the clean water. Place this on the

section labeled “Wet Feather”.

6. Closely observe the feather and draw detail of it.

7. Take one feather and move it through the oily water. Place this on the section

labeled “Oily Feather”.

8. Closely observe the feather and draw detail of it.

9. You will drag the last 3 feathers through the oily water, but after you will try

to clean each of them in a different way. Clean one only with a paper towel,

another one only with water, and one with detergent and water. Place in the

appropriate spots on your evaluation paper.

10. Now look at each of the feathers and rate them using a scale of 1(oiliest) to 10 (cleanest), and record your results in the data table.

Once you have determined which feather is “cleanest” dip it into your clean water and observe and record the appearance of the feather. Compare it to the feather that was just dipped into plain water.

11. Clean-up your work station and answer the analysis questions.

Hypothesis If the cleaning method is changed, then ______will clean the

feathers best, because ______.

Data Table Condition of Feather RatingName:______

Feather Treatment / Cleanliness / Sketch of feather
Wet feather
Oily feather
Cleaned with paper towel
Cleaned with water
Cleaned with dish washing detergent

Analysis-Answer all parts n complete sentences in your own words!

1.Did the results support your hypothesis? Why or why not?

2. Which method would you recommend scientists use to clean up birds in oil spills?

Why?

3. What problems would scientists have in cleaning up animals after oil spills?

4. What other methods could scientists use to help clean up organisms after oil spills?

5. What method is used most when there is an oil spill?

6. What did you notice about the condition of the feather that was thoroughly cleaned with detergent to remove the oil when it was dipped into the water?