What is Project FeederWatch?
Project FeederWatch is a joint research and education project of the
Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the National Audubon Society, Bird Studies
Canada, and the Canadian Nature Federation. For the last 13 years,
thousands of "FeederWatchers" across Canada and the U.S. have counted
the numbers and kinds of birds that visit their feeders from November
to early April. Each year, the data FeederWatchers collect grows in
significance. Scientists are already beginning to see trends and stories
in the data. FeederWatchers include people of all ages and backgrounds,
from retirees to school kids, from trained ornithologists to beginning
bird watchers.
By analyzing data from FeederWatchers, scientists learn about:
- the presence/absence of feeder species at thousands of locations
across North America
- increases or declines in winter bird populations over time
- expansions or contractions in the winter ranges of species
over time
- the kinds of habitats and foods that attract birds
- rare or unusual bird sightings
- the seed preferences of various bird species
- how fast and far an infectious disease can spread through a
wild bird population
- how involving citizens in scientific bird studies increases
public understanding of birds and the process of science
Join Project FeederWatch and put your hobby to work for science. Contact
Bird Studies Canada for information and to receive your FeederWatch
participant's kit.
Bird Studies Canada
P.O. Box 160
Port Rowan, ON N0E 1M0
(888) 448-BIRD
The Top Feeder Birds of Alberta in 2002-03
| Species |
% of feeders visited |
| Black-capped Chickadee |
96 |
| Downy Woodpecker |
86 |
| Blue Jay |
82 |
| Black-billed Magpie |
79 |
| Hairy Woodpecker |
67 |
| House Sparrow |
59 |
| White-breasted Nuthatch |
58 |
| Pine Grosbeak |
43 |
| Dark-eyed Junco |
41 |
| Red-breasted Nuthatch |
41 |
A more detailed account of the 2002-03 FeederWatch season can be found
on the Internet at: http://birds.cornell.edu/Publications/birdscope
The ideal bird feeder is sturdy enough to withstand winter weather, tight enough to keep seeds dry, large enough so you don’t have to refill it constantly, and easy to assemble and clean. For these reasons, plastic or metal feeders usually work better than wooden ones. In general, seed-feeders fall into three categories: tray feeders, hopper feeders, and tube feeders. Additional specialty feeders include suet, hummingbird, and peanut feeders. Each type attracts different kinds of birds, and has advantages and disadvantages.
A more detailed description of feeders can be found on the Internet at: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/BirdFeeders.htm
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