The connection between different types of bird seed (independent) and the eating preferences native birds have (dependent.) Jessica Personal Research Project AP Environmental Science April 19th, 2006 Mr. Mac

Introduction So…why perform this experiment? A trip to an outdoor store’s bird seed aisle would prove the fact there are many types of bird seed. But, what seeds do most birds prefer? From charts and tables, my main source being from Cornell’s Project FeederWatch (see next slide), it seemed that in general native birds prefer sunflower seeds. Therefore, I predicted that the sunflower seeds would be eaten the most, and the nyjer seed the least. In the experiment, the amount of each seed eaten was measured each week. All feeders started at a height of 8 cm of seed. The number of birds and amount of food eaten depended upon the seed. Although I was not be able to control the birds that ate the seed, when a bird was spotted an observation was recorded. The amount of food on the ground and the level of feed in each feeder was also recorded.

Experimental Design Hypothesis: If different types of bird food are offered to native birds, than birds will be attract so some types more than others. Prediction: I expect to find that the local birds are attracted to sunflower seeds over nyjer and corn. Independent Variable: Bird Food (Nyjer, Corn, Sunflower) Dependent Variable: Birds (number of birds and amount eaten)

Supplies Nyjer seed— (Kaytee® Wild Bird Seed Jug ) Cracked Corn (Brown’s Song Blend) Nyjer seed— (Kaytee® Wild Bird Seed Jug ) Black Oil Sunflower Seeds (Kaytee® Supreme Black Oil Sunflower Seed ) Description To see how attracted birds are to this particular seed. To see how attracted birds are to this particular seed To see how attracted birds are to this particular seed. Purpose Local Garden Store Local Garden Store Local Garden Store Source 1 Bag Quantity Needed/ Used

Equipment Digital Camera Identical Window Style Feeders (Opus Garden Song Window Bird Feeder) Description To take pictures of birds, share pictures with the class, etc. Feed the birds, and allow for up close observations Purpose Computer Store Local Hardware Store Source 1 3 Quantity Needed/ Used

Procedures Clean the window Rinse the three IDENTICAL BIRDFEEDERS Measure 8 cm of SUNFLOWER seeds, pour into feeder—make sure none spills out from openings Perform above procedure but with NYJER seeds and CORN Using the suction cups on the feeder, secure three feeders on window, leaving a foot or less between Record observations (date, number and type of bird) Add in brands and digital pictures

Procedures Cont. Every Tuesday measure the amount of seed in each feeder, and the amount lost—add to table Take pictures with DIGITAL CAMERA of any interesting observations Refill any feeder that falls below 3 cm with seed up to 8 cm

Qualitative/Quantative Data: The amount of food eaten was measured and recorded on every Monday of the week. The amount of food was also taken into account. The number and types of bird seen at each feeder were recorded on a data table. The weather was written about in the journal. These observations helped to determine the eating habits of natural birds in my backyard. The mean, range, and standard deviation were calculated for each seed type. Please click here for embedded observation table.

Sunflower Seed Results Analysis: Some of the key statistics while analyzing this data was that the mean was 0.111 cm with the standard deviation at 0.18. Five weeks of the eight weeks no sunflower was eaten. When sunflower was eaten it was only slightly nibbled on by bigger birds like robins.

Cracked Corn Results Analysis: The cracked corn skyrocketed by the end of the experiment. Although the mean was less than 0.5 cm per week because of the 5 zeros. It can be easily shown by the graph that there was a constant increase in the amount of food eaten in the last three weeks. As the nyjer seed became less popular, the cracked corn was the new hit. Thi s is why the standard deviation was at 0.36.

Nyjer Seed Results Analysis: The nyjer seed graph and information was slightly more interesting. After the bird feeder was settled the amount eaten went from 0, to 0.5, and reached 2 cm at one point. By the end of the experiment, the feeder was covered in nyjer shells and were not of interest anymore. Unlike the sunflower seeds, the nyjer seeds only hit the 0 mark twice. The mean was at 0.53 cm per week.

Conclusion I A. So, how accurate was my hypothesis? Honestly, my hypothesis really was not that accurate. I did not expect the nyjer seed to be such a big hit. According to my research prior it seemed as if nyjer would only be popular with sparrows and corn with only very particular birds. My research listed that sunflower seeds were enjoyed by blue jays, cardinals, chickadees, and so on. All of these birds were in my backyard, but none of them seemed to prefer the black-oil seed. B. What seems to be the relationship between the independent and dependent variables? The type of seed definitely has a connection with the birds that come. The finches and juncos were nearly always at the nyjer seed. Larger birds, and later on the chickadees loved the corn. Birds, just like humans, definitely have an eating preference. The food preference also seems to change throughout the weeks. By the end of the experiment there was a great incline in the amount of corn eaten. This may be due to what nutrition is needed for the birds at what time. It is clear by the mean that the bird’s body did not motivate the birds to seek the fat found in sunflower seeds.

Conclusion II C. What are some known or potential sources of error that could have affected my results? There are many potential sources of error, especially because this experiment was done outdoors and there is only so much that can be controlled. One major source of error could have been there weather. I did this experiment between the change of seasons. Humidity, temperature, precipitation, wind, were all changing from day to day. Another source of error was in measuring the amount of seed lost. The seed may have not been settled. Another source of error may have been the food that was not in the food cylinder: either put on the ground, or left on the feeder stand. The migration of birds coming to my backyard also changed. We must take into consideration that the number and types of bird in my backyard changed from week to week. The results were different week to week because of the weather and what birds were in the backyard. Another reason for results being different is the nutritional need for the birds. Because no birds ate the sunflower seeds it can be interpreted that no birds needed fat at the time. Later in the project, birds seemed to go to the corn feeder over the nyjer feeder, this may be because corn is needed for digestion.

Conclusion III D. If I was to do my experiment again, what would I do the same and what would I do differently? I think I would refill the feeder every week. I would only put 5 cm of food in each feeder. This way I would literally be doing the experiment week to week with fresh food. I regret not doing this. I would try to find the same brand of food for each type—I tried to doing this but couldn’t. Take better observations of the numbers of birds coming—if given a bigger budget I would’ve recorded the feeder 24/7

Conclusion IV E. "What did you learn from conducting your PRP exercise?“ I learned so much from my PRP exercise. It was really interesting to see birds react to the three birdfeeders on my window. The birds in my backyard changed there eating preference throughout the year. It was fun to make up hypothesis along the way: was the reason for the incline in cracked corn because the birds needed to digest the food they were finding in my backyard? I also learned that research projects take time. It took the whole year to write out an outline, get the equipment, do the lab for eight weeks, and reflect on it. There are a lot of stages of this research project that are “behind the scenes” and are not included in this powerpoint.