WBFI Research Foundation

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WBFI Research Foundation 10 Years of Scientific
Research on Wild Bird Feeding
Dr. David Horn, Professor of Biology, Millikin
University
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10 Years of Scientific Research on Wild
Bird Feeding

• Bird feeding is a popular pastime. In 2011, 53
  million Americans over 16 fed birds and other
  wildlife and spent 5 billion on the hobby (USFWS
  2012).
• The practice of bird feeding remains one of the
  least studied wildlife-management issues in the
  United States (Horn and Johansen 2013).
• Since 2005, the WBFI Research Foundation has been
  funding studies to answer some of the hobbys
  most important questions.

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10 Years of Scientific Research on Wild
Bird Feeding
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10 Years of Scientific Research on Wild
Bird Feeding
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10 Years of Scientific Research on Wild Bird
Feeding
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The Impact of Wild Bird Feeding on Bird
Populations and the Health of Individual Birds
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WBFI Research FoundationInternational Research
Development Center
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Wild Bird Food and Feeder Test Site

• Food and feeder test site provides independent,
  confidential, scientific testing of food and
  feeders for wild birds.
• Test single seeds, seed blends, suet, seed
  blocks, etc.
• Test bird feeders
• Food and feeder test site can conduct other
  research.
• Does bird feeding positively impact survival?

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Wild Bird Food and Feeder Test Site

• Compare companys bird food/feeder products with
  others
• Each test would consist of up to 4 products
  simultaneously.
• Each test would be a blind test.
• Each test would include
• Monitoring the number of birds of each species
  that visit each product during 30, 45-minute
  sessions.
• Total food consumption of each product measured
  weekly.
• Monitoring will take place in at least three
  locations in and around Decatur, IL.

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Wild Bird Food and Feeder Test Site

• Testing is expected to be complete in 6 weeks.
• A written report summarizing the results will be
  provided.
• Report will include statistical analysis and
  other comments.

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Introduction Sunflower vs. Seed Blend

• First test of WBFI Research Foundation
  International Research Development Center
• Compared black-oil sunflower to seed blend
• Seed blend consisted of 50 black-oil sunflower,
  18 white proso millet, 10 safflower, 9 whole
  peanuts, 7 medium sunflower chips, and 6 red
  proso millet.

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Study Sites Sunflower vs. Seed Blend

• Study took place September 19 to October 7, 2015.
• Four locations in Decatur, Illinois used
• Suburban home
• Dennis School (Decatur Public Schools)
• Rock Springs Conservation Area (Macon County
  Conservation District)
• Sand Creek Conservation Area (Macon County
  Conservation District)
• Locations used different feeder types. Within
  location four feeders of same type and model were
  used.

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Results Seed Consumption

• Daily food consumption significantly differed
  between black-oil sunflower and seed blend.
• Sunflower consumption was 0.92 kg per day.
• Seed blend consumption was 1.75 kg per day.

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Results Bird Abundance

• Bird visits at feeders significantly differed
  between black-oil sunflower and seed blend.
• Two species were more abundant at sunflower.
• Black-capped Chickadee
• 7.4 visits at sunflower vs. 3.7 visits at seed
  blend
• Tufted Titmouse
• 20.2 visits at sunflower vs. 5.4 visits at seed
  blend

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Results Bird Abundance

• One species was more abundant at seed blend.
• House Sparrow
• 1.7 visits at sunflower vs. 5 visits at seed
  blend

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Results Bird Abundance

• Three species had equivalent abundance at
  black-oil sunflower and seed blend.
• House Finch
• 2.4 visits at sunflower vs. 2.1 visits at seed
  blend
• Northern Cardinal
• 1.7 visits at sunflower vs. 1.3 visits at seed
  blend
• White-breasted Nuthatch
• 13.3 visits at sunflower vs. 8.9 visits at seed
  blend

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Discussion Sunflower vs. Seed Blend

• Seed blend consumption 90 greater than black-oil
  sunflower.
• Seed selection varies by species.
• Opportunity to develop seed blends that attract
  species people want, reduce nuisance species, and
  increase seed consumption.
• Black-capped Chickadee and Tufted Titmouse are
  two species individuals want to attract to
  feeders.
• House Sparrow considered undesirable by many
  individuals.

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Wild Bird Food and Feeder Test Site

• Next step in wild bird feeding research
• Seed studies can examine
• Blends that attract specific species
• Blends that increase seed consumption
• Feeder studies can examine
• Effectiveness of new feeder types
• Effectiveness of modifications to pre-existing
  feeders
• Provides companies with valuable information
  prior to product launch

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Acknowledgments

• Support for the International Research
  Development Center was provided by Wild Bird
  Feeding Industry Research Foundation, Millikin
  University, Hiatt Manufacturing, Prince
  Corporation, and Woodstream Corporation.
• Sierra Birdsell, Sydney Brangenberg, and David
  Braun are assisting with the research.
• Decatur Public Schools and Macon County
  Conservation District are hosting feeder
  locations.

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Questions
Dr. David J. Horn Millikin University 217-424-6392
, dhorn_at_millikin.edu