Crystal+Parson

=Crystal Parson= =July 2012=

The Best Bird Buffet Choices
I created a wild bird garden in my front yard about 7 years ago, consisting of bird feeders (three for wild bird mix, a finch feeder, a humming bird feeder and a peanut butter log). This garden also has a bird bath and many native plants planted to attract wild birds, which include purple cone flowers, river oats wild grass, compass sunflower, trumpet vine and liatris (blazing star). I usually fill the feeders with a generic wild bird mix from a local feed store. This mix is economical, fifty pounds for $16.95. It contains only cracked corn, black sunflower, milo, and millet.This feed attracts mainly ‍Northern Cardinals, House Sparrows, European Starlings, chickadees and Red-winged Blackbirds. I would like to attract a larger variety of native birds that are common in my area, such as goldfinches, nuthatches, Purple Finches and a variety of woodpeckers. ‍

Materials and Methods
====//My methods//: I purchased three different bird mixes and filled the feeders already in garden, each with 8 cups of feed. All three feeders are close together and approximately the same height off the ground. All three feeders share the same surroundings, including amount of sun, natural perches and proximity to a bird bath. As suggested by a fellow student, I placed clear plastic under the feeders to observed the amount of discarded feed. I observed the feeders mainly in the morning hours for 7 to 10 days and recorded my observations, noting the different species of birds seen. I measured the amount of feed consumed in each about a week apart.====

//My materials//:
//Wild Delight// Fruit and Berry bird seed //Wild Delight// Nut & Berry bird seed //Wild Bird Mix// from local feed store Long strips clear plastic Three large bird feeders

Description of Bird Seed Used:
 * Birdseed || Weight in pounds || Price || Price per Pound ||  || Primary birds (Claim on package) ||
 * Wild Delight Fruit & Berry || 8 || 12.95 || $1.61 || sunflower chips, black oil sunflower, safflower, peanuts, dried apple, dried cranberries, dried blueberries, dried raisins || woodpeckers, cardinals, nuthatches, chickadees, finches, jays, titmice, grosbeaks ||
 * Wild Delight Nut & Berry || 5 || 8.39 || $1.67 || sunflower, peanuts, safflower, pumpkin seeds, dried raisins, dried cranberries || woodpeckers, cardinals, nuthatches, chickadees, finches, jays, titmice, grosbeaks, songbirds, buntings ||
 * Wild Bird Mix || 50 || 16.95 || $0.33 || cracked corn, black sunflower, milo, millet ||  ||

//Variables//

 * ====My Independent Variable====
 * 1) Type of bird seed
 * ====My Dependent Variables====
 * 1) Types of birds
 * 2) Number of birds
 * ====My Controls====
 * 1) Bird Feeders

//Final Data in Graph Form://





Results and Analysis
After nine days of observation, the data shows that the //Nut & Berry// mix was consumed almost twice as much as the //Fruit & Berry// and two thirds as much as the //Wild Bird Mix//. There was very little waste collected under the feeders that would not adversely affect the measurement. Squirrels, raccoons nor opossums have not been observed near the feeders indicating that birds were most likely the only animals consuming the feed. The three kinds of bird seed attracted ten different species of birds//.// Previously using only the Wild Bird mix, the most numerous birds attracted to the feeders were Northern Cardinals, House Sparrows, European Starlings, chickadees and Red-winged Blackbirds. The Fruit & Berry mix and the Nut & Berry attracted the following additional species not commonly scene: Red-breasted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Indigo Bunting, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch and American Goldfinch. The Fruit & Berry mix attracted six species, the Fruit & Nut attracted nine species and the Wild Bird Mix attracted five species. This was dependent on the individual diets of the indigenous birds.

Conclusion
The Fruit & Nut mix attracted the most birds and the greatest variety. This mix is the most expensive of the three feeds offered. My hypothesis was supported in that a greater variety of birds were attracted to mixes containing fruit and nuts. In order to attract a greater variety of birds, various nuts, seeds and fruit need to be offered that are naturally consumed by the birds I desire to attract.

Discussion
I had hoped to attract a greater variety and number of birds, such as Purple finches, Tufted Titmice, Downy woodpeckers, Red-headed woodpeckers, Pine siskins and Nuthatches. These birds are known to frequent local feeders at varying times of the year. There are possible contributing factors to the birds attracted during the observation period, such as unusually hot weather, season of the year, and birds not being used to feed being available but for only a few weeks.