Science Fair Ideas:  Bird feeder studies

1.   What foods do birds prefer?-black oil sunflower, stripe 
sunflower, safflower, millet, thistle, peanuts, suet,etc.

2.   Do different bird species prefer different foods?

3.   What type of feeder do birds prefer?-tube, hopper, tray, etc.

4.   Do different bird species prefer different feeder types? 
 
5.   Do birds have daily feeding patterns?

6.   Do different bird species have different daily feeding patterns?

7.   How does temperature alter bird feeding habits?

8.   How does precipitation alter bird feeding habits?

9.   What kind of competition exist between birds using bird feeders?

The experimental design is a critical aspect in observational studies of
wild animals.  you must decide what to measure, and how to make the
needed measurement.  Ideally your design should allow the study the
effect of one variable at a time.  Wild creatures tend to be
uncooperative, and it may be necessary to carry out the experiment for
a long time period to collect the needed data.  If a feeder is not
already in existence at your home, it may take several weeks to a month
before a new feeder is discovered and used by the birds living in your
neighborhood.  If a new feeder of a different type is introduce to an
existing feeder, the new one may be totally ignored for a period of
weeks before being used.  The same may be true for a new kind of food.

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