Ask a Crow Scientist: Writing for Every Reader

Meet the Crow Scientist

1Dr. Lena Torres is a biologist who studies the crows that live in Hillcrest Park. She puts colored bands on the crows' legs so she can tell the birds apart. Fifth grader Amara Osei interviewed her for the Maple School News to find out how much writing a scientist does.

2Amara: Do scientists really write a lot?
Dr. Torres: More than most people guess! I write something almost every day. Some of my writing takes a minute or two, and some takes a whole year.

3Amara: What is the quickest thing you write?
Dr. Torres: My field notes. When I spot a banded crow, I write down the time, the colors of its bands, and what it is doing. A note might say, "7:15, Red-Blue, digging in grass by pond." Each note takes about a minute. These notes are only for me and my team, so I don't need full sentences. I just need to write fast before the bird flies away.

4Amara: Do you ever write for people who are not scientists?
Dr. Torres: Yes, every week. On Fridays, I send an email to the park volunteers who help me look for banded crows. I tell them which birds we spotted and thank them for their help. The volunteers are friendly neighbors, so I write in a cheerful, chatty way. The email takes me about fifteen minutes.

5Amara: What writing takes the longest?
Dr. Torres: My research paper. Some young crows stay with their parents and help feed the next year's chicks, and my paper is about those helpers. I gathered notes about them for three years. Writing the paper will take most of this year. First I write a draft. Then other scientists read it and send me comments, and I revise. The readers are scientists, so I use exact words and explain how I gathered every number.

6Amara: Have you ever written something for kids?
Dr. Torres: Last month, a second-grade class mailed me a stack of questions about crows. I spent one evening writing them a letter. I used short sentences and everyday words. When I wrote the word fledgling, I explained that it means a young bird that has just left its nest.

7Amara: What advice do you have for young writers?
Dr. Torres: Write a little every day. Before you start, ask yourself two questions: Who will read this, and why am I writing it? Your answers will tell you what kind of words to use and how much time to spend.