backyard birds, bird feeding, feeder survey, Iowa, supplemental feeding
Since its inception in 1984, data from the annual Iowa "Winter Bird Feeder Survey" have provided valuable information about birds that use feeders in Iowa such as spatial and temporal population trends. Using data from the 1988 and 1994 Surveys, we examined how the occurrence of bird species that use feeders was influenced by geographic location, the habitat surrounding a house, and the types of seeds offered at a house. Of the 23 species examined, the occurrence of 8 species was influenced by latitude, 22 species were influenced by the habitat surrounding the house, and 22 species were influenced by the presence of water or the types of food available. Two of the more surprising results from this study were that seven species had a positive relationship between occurrence and corn, and only three species had a positive relationship with the presence of mixed seed. Although people interested in feeding birds may not be able to attract all species, results from this study may be used to increase ones likelihood of viewing individual species of interest.
Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science
© Copyright 2002 by the Iowa Academy of Science, Inc.
Horn, David Joseph; Fairbairn, Steve E.; and Hollis, Richard J.
"Factors Influencing the Occurrence of Birds That Use Feeders in Iowa,"
Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS: Vol. 109:
, Article 4.
Available at: http://scholarworks.uni.edu/jias/vol109/iss1/4