Alex


 * Can Birds Smell?**


 * Question**:

What scent attracts birds more, peppermint or lemon? If you took the same color bird feeder with the same bird seed, but with two different scents (lemon vs peppermint) on the bird feeder, then which scent attracts birds more?Or do they eat the bird seed because they're hungry?

**Research Summary**:


 * Hypothesis**:

My hypothesis is that birds prefer peppermint over lemon.


 * Variables**:
 * Independent Variable - peppermint vs lemon scent
 * Dependent Variable - Amount of bird seed
 * Controlled - Color of the bird feeders and type of bird seed


 * Methods and Materials**:
 * **Method**: Experiment
 * **Materials**: Bird feeder (same color), lemon scent (essential oil), peppermint scent (essential oil), Black Oil Sunflower Seeds, and electronic scale
 * **Procedures**:
 * 1) Place bird seed in the bird feeder and record weight.
 * 2) Label and coat paper towels with individual scents.
 * 3) Tape labels with scents to separate bird feeders.
 * 4) Place bird feeders outside on trees.
 * 5) Weigh and record weight of bird feeder on a subsequent dates.


 * Results and Data:**


 * || **Weight of Bird Seed**
 * (Lemon Scented Bird Feeder)** || **Weight of Bird Seed**
 * (Peppermint Scented Bird Feeder)** ||
 * Tuesday 10/8 || 6.5 oz || 6.5 oz ||
 * Thursday 10/10 || 10.0* oz || 10.0 oz* ||
 * Sunday 10/20 || 5.0 oz || 5.0 oz ||
 * Wednesday 10/23 || 10.0 oz || 9.2 oz ||
 * This is the weight of an empty bird feeder.




 * Discussion**:

[This may include more research, what worked, and what did not work, what you might do differently, if your hypothesis was supported or not.]

On Thursday 10/10, when I checked the bird feeder, I found both of them empty. From this result, the birds equally ate from the peppermint and lemon scented bird feeders. This result does not support my hypothesis that birds will eat more out of the peppermint compared with the lemon scented bird feeder. However, this is consistent with my research that states that the sense of smell is least developed for most birds. As of Sunday 10/20, I have added more bird seed to see if this trend continues.


 * Research Notes**:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/olfactory. Olfactory: Of or pertaining to the sense of smell.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080716111421.htm Can birds smell
 * Until recently, a bird's sense of smell was thought to be poorly developed. There is now genetic evidence that many birds have a well-developed sense of smell. Birds use smell to navigate, to search for food and to distinguish individuals. The Kiwi bird has a lot of olfactory receptor genes and probes the forest floor at night in search for food. Kiwis are guided by smell not sight.

http://birding.about.com/od/birdbehavior/a/Bird-Senses.htm Smell
 * Out of all the senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste), the sense of smell is the least developed. Most birds have very small olfactory centers in their brains. Some birds have a better developed sense of smell like vultures, kiwis, honeyguides, albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters to locate food sources and can often smell food from a great distance.

http://research.msu.edu/stories/male-songbirds-use-scent-attract-females Males & Females
 * In animals, scents are used to find, attract, and evaluate mates. A Michigan researched demonstrated in a study that scents are given off by male songbirds to attract female songbirds. Male songbirds release cologne or preen oil. Females were attracted and males had an aggressive response to the scent of another male. Songbirds have the smallest olfactory bulbs compared to other birds, however, research shows songbirds have a lot of olfactory sensors.

http://www.flowers.org.uk/flowers/flowers-by-scent/ Types of scents
 * Plants and flowers use scent to attract birds and insects for pollination. Foul or bitter scent is also used as a defense to keep herbivores from eating the plant.


 * Bibliography**:

"Birds Have A Good Sense Of Smell." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 16 July 2008. Web. 03 Oct. 2013. "Flowers by Scent." Flowersorguk Flowers by Scent Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2013. "Male Songbirds Use Scent to Attract Females." MSU Research. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2013. "Birds Have A Good Sense Of Smell." ScienceDaily, 16 Jul. 2008. Web. 3 Oct. 2013.