The slides and the information contained in these slides is the property of the WBFI Research Foundation. All rights to use or disseminate the information contained in these slides remains at the discretion of the WBFI Research Foundation. Data shown

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The slides and the information contained in these
slides is the property of the WBFI Research
Foundation. All rights to use or disseminate the
information contained in these slides remains at
the discretion of the WBFI Research Foundation.
Data shown are preliminary and do not represent
the final results.
Disclaimer
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PROJECT WILDBIRDFood and Feeder Preferences of
Wild Birds in the United States and Canada
Dr. David J. Horn Department of Biology, Millikin
University A Research Project Supported by The
Wild Bird Feeding Industry Research Foundation
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Background

• Over 55 million Americans and Canadians over the
  age of 16 watch and feed wild birds around their
  homes and spend more than 3 billion dollars on
  birdseed alone.
• While several studies have examined seed and
  feeder preferences, the most important questions
  have not yet been adequately answered.

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Our opportunity

• For the Wild Bird Feeding Industry to conduct the
  most comprehensive scientific study ever
  performed on seed and feeder preferences of wild
  birds in the United States and Canada.
• PROJECT WILDBIRD

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Objectives

• What are the seed preferences of birds that use
  feeders in the U.S. and Canada?
• Are seed preferences of birds equivalent in
  different regions of the U.S. and Canada?
• Are seed preferences of birds equivalent at
  different times of the year?
• What are the feeder preferences of birds in the
  U.S. and Canada?
• Is there an interaction between seed preferences
  and feeder preferences?

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Project scope

• Upon completion of this study, we will know the
  seed and feeder preferences of common backyard
  birds in the United States and Canada.
• The study will be continent-wide in scope and
  provide advice to individuals specific to most
  regions of the continent during different seasons
  of the year.

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Method of research

• The study began fall 2005 and will continue
  through fall 2008.
• The study is being conducted in the U.S. and
  Canada and four geographic regions will be
  compared.

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Method of research (cont.) Website
www.projectwildbird.org

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Method of research (cont.)

• Observational Approach
• The approach involves distributing a feeder
  survey to participants four times a year for up
  to three years.
• The survey collects data about the type of
  feeders present in a yard, types of seed offered
  at each feeder, and the number and species of
  birds visiting each feeder over two hours of
  observation.
• Participants also complete a questionnaire on
  bird feeding habits, and characteristics of the
  yard and neighborhood.

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Method of research (cont.)

• Experimental Approach
• Participants in the experimental approach are
  assigned specific feeder and seed combinations.
• Participants record the number of each species of
  bird present at each feeder throughout the year.
• Feed, feeders, poles, baffles and shipping are
  provided by the generous WBFI members here today.

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Method of research (cont.)

The birds are going through the black oil like
candy. I fill the feeder each morning because
they empty it each day. If I would do it, I
could probably fill it twice a day.
- R. Mayhorn, Virginia
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Results Observational approach

• At the end of summer 2007, 12,454 bird visits of
  76 species have been recorded at feeders.
• The 10 most abundant species from most to least
  number of observations were American Goldfinch,
  House Sparrow, House Finch, Black-capped
  Chickadee, Common Grackle, Mourning Dove,
  Northern Cardinal, Dark-eyed Junco, Tufted
  Titmouse, and White-breasted Nuthatch.
• Observational participants that have been
  collecting bird data reside from coast to coast
  coming from the 21 states and 3 Canadian
  provinces.

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Results Observational approach

• 269 observational participants completed the
  questionnaire.

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Why do you feed birds?
(Respondents checked all that applied)

• Enjoy the sound of birds in the yard 82
• Hobby/Fun 81
• Brings nature and beauty to the area 81
• Want to help the birds 75
• Learning bird behavior/Identifying species 65
• Therapy/Relaxation 58
• Maintain a list of bird species seen in yard 38
• As part of the landscaping 35
• As an educational experience for children 28
• Other 12

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Results Experimental approach

• At the end of summer 2007, 411,617 bird visits of
  94 species have been recorded during 5,587
  45-minute observations at feeders.
• The 10 most abundant species from most to least
  number of observations were House Sparrow, House
  Finch, American Goldfinch, Brown-headed Cowbird,
  Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee,
  Mourning Dove, Pine Siskin, Common Grackle, and
  Purple Finch.
• 129 experimental citizen scientists have been
  collecting bird data and reside from 33 states
  and 2 Canadian provinces.

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Results Experimental approach

• 129 experimental citizen scientists have been
  collecting bird data, and reside from 33 states
  and 2 Canadian provinces.

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American Goldfinch abundance at 10
food types
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Carolina Chickadee abundance at 3
feeder types
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Pine Siskin abundance at 4 regions
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Tufted Titmouse abundance during 4
seasons
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Outcomes

• Observational Approach
• 269 individuals have completed the questionnaire
  on bird feeding habits.
• Experimental Approach
• 129 citizen scientists have recorded 411,617 bird
  visits of 94 species during 22,347 45-minute
  observations.

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Outcomes

• Historic scientific study on the seeds and
  feeders to provide birds with by geographic
  region and time of the year.
• Study will be the first of many landmark
  scientific studies to examine wild bird feeding.

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PROJECT WILDBIRD Contributors - BENEFACTOR

• Wild Bird Centers of America, Inc.

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PROJECT WILDBIRD Contributors - PATRONS

• DD Commodities, Ltd.
• Percevia.com

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PROJECT WILDBIRD Contributors - PLATINUM
CONTRIBUTORS

• Anderson Seed
• Central Avian Small Animal (Kaytee)
• Essex Topcrop Sales, Ltd.
• Kaytee Avian Foundation
• Oilseeds International Ltd.
• Wagners LLC
• Wild Bird Feeding Industry (WBFI)

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PROJECT WILDBIRD Contributors - GOLD
CONTRIBUTORS

• Lebanon Seaboard
• National Sunflower Association
• Red River Commodities

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PROJECT WILDBIRD Contributors - SILVER
CONTRIBUTORS

• Armstrong Milling Keystone Grain
• Commodity Marketing North Bag and Box
• Dick and Carole Hebert Pumpernickel Press
• Droll Yankee Sunbird, Inc.
• Duncraft
• Erva Tool Die Co., Inc
• ETO Sterilization
• Hawkeye Commodities
• Heath Outdoor Products
• Imports Sterilization Inc.

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PROJECT WILDBIRD Contributors - BRONZE
CONTRIBUTORS

• All Star Trading
• Central Distributing
• Cereal By-Products
• Crest Flavor Company
• Empire Seed Grain
• High Country Mercantile
• Masterfoods
• North Pacific Ag Products
• Novabird
• Perry Brothers Seed, Inc.
• Wild Bird Seeds Such
• Wild Birds Unlimited

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PROJECT WILDBIRD Contributors - PIONEER
CONTRIBUTORS

• Artline, Inc. Heritage Farms
• Backyard Nature Products Jean Cowden
• Birdola Products Knight Seed
• Birdgeway Trading Corp. MGT Co., Sue Hays
• Cabin Fever Woodworking North Central Companies
• Cello Polly North Star Packaging
• Central/Valley Bag Prince Corporation
• David Horn Reggie Vanden Bosch
• Denise Townsend Tami Hebert
• Des Moines Truck Brokers Ltd. The Industrial
  Fumigant Co.
• E. Cohen Co. CPAs Vari-craft
• Elizabeth Mohan Woodstream Corporation
• George Petrides, Sr.

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Questions

• Dr. David J. Horn
• Department of Biology
• Millikin University
• 1184 W. Main St.
• Decatur, IL 62522
• 217-424-6392
• dhorn_at_millikin.edu
• FAX [phone]