Susan+Kennedy

__Introduction__
====I was recently awarded a grant to construct a habitat to attract birds, butterflies, and insects by incorporating native plants, water conservation practices, and the absence of pesticides. The area to be planted is in a protected courtyard easily visible for students and faculty. Currently the area is under construction, but the plan is to attract student birders to the area through a new birding club to begin this fall. There are two established feeders on this site: one that contains a wild songbird mix of seeds, and the other is a nyjer seed feeder. I will also include a suet feeder to observe the different species it may attract. Since I want the birders to have optimal observation opportunities during the meeting time, I am wondering whether we should plan our meetings before school or after school.====

====A teacher at one of the town's elementary schools launched a similar venture last year about seven miles away. Her fourth grade students observed such species as Cedar Waxwing (B//ombycilla cendrorum//), Dark-eyed Junco (//Junco hyemalis//), Tufted Titmouse (//Baeolophus bicolor//), Black-capped Chickadee (//Poecile atricapillus//), a Red-tailed Hawk (//Buteo jamaicensis//) and an Eastern Bluebird (//Sialia sialis//). Because of the similarity and proximity of our habitats, I expect to see some of these species at our feeders. However, another factor I am wondering about is the impact that the seasons and weather have on the birds at our feeders. Her students monitored their feeders during the fall and spring, and my data will be collected during the summer.====

__Materials__

 * ====Observation/data collection sheet, including date, time, weather conditions, species sighted and number of birds====
 * ====Digital camera with zoom lens to record birds at feeders====
 * ====Sibley's field guide for bird identification, iBird Pro====
 * ====Timer to set for 30 minutes====
 * ====One platform feeder with Lyric Supreme wild bird seed mix====
 * ====One thistle seed feeder with Lyric Nyjer seed====
 * ====Suet feeder====

__Methods__

 * ====Observe the feeders twice a day, at 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. for a period of 30 minutes for 7 consecutive days====
 * ====Record date, time, weather conditions (i.e., rain, temperature, winds), species and number of birds (by species and total)====
 * ====Photograph birds====
 * ====Record ongoing reflections/questions that arise (specifically the impact of weather or impending storms)====