Tsehaye

Question
Does the shape of the bird feeder affect how much bird feed is consumed?

Introduction
I chose this question to clarify that different shapes do make a difference. When my parents were buying new bird feeders I heard, "Just get which one is the prettiest." Actually, people should really take into consideration all the different shapes, features, and characteristics of bird feeders. I'm doing this project to not only prove to my parents that shape matters, but to also see for myself if all the information out there on different bird feeders is actually true.

**Background Information**
A tube feeder is a very nice and practical feeder. It keeps all the bird feed dry, which prevents mold. Because of the large ports on the tube feeder, I'll be able to provide food to all bird sizes. Even though bowl feeders attract a great variety of birds, bowl feeders aren't rain resistant and birds are also attracted to them.

**Hypothesis**
Because of the great variety of birds that a bowl feeder attracts, I think most birds will come to my bowl feeder. However, there are many factors to this experiment that sway my opinion. If there is inclement weather then I have a feeling that most birds will avoid the always moving bowl feeder and go to the durable tube feeder. Above, in my background information, it reads that tube feeders are great for any harsh weather, because they won't swing back and forth or mold.

**Variables:**
Independent Variable: shape of the bird feeder Dependent Variable: how much feed is consumed. Control: bird feeder location

**Methods & Materials**

 * Two different shaped bird feeders
 * Tube feeder
 * Bowl feeder
 * Bird seed
 * 3 cups per feeder
 * Chili pepper powder: keeps the squirrels away (by the end of the experiment I realized I don't even need chili peper powder)
 * 2 teaspoons per feeder
 * Canola oil: helps all the powders stick to the birdfeed
 * 1/4 cup per feeder
 * Red pepper powder: keeps the squirrels away
 * 2 teaspoons per feeder

I put both bird feeders, with their bird feed mixes, up on Wednesday at 6:00 p. On Thursday, at 6:00 p., I measured and recorded how much bird feed was left in each bird feeder. Then I dumped the remaining bird seed and refilled each feeder. I followed this routine each night until Tuesday night. I periodically watched my feeders to make sure my anti-squirrel bird feed mix actually worked, and it did.




 * || Bird feed (that was eaten) at 6:00 p., the next day:: //Tube Feeder// || Bird feed (that was eaten) after 6:00 p., the next day:: //Bowl Feeder// ||
 * Wednesday || 1 cup || 1/2 cup ||
 * Thursday || 1 1/2 cup || 2 cups ||
 * Friday || 2 cups || 1/2 cup ||
 * Saturday || 2 cups || 1/4 cup ||
 * Sunday || 2 cups || 1 cup ||
 * Monday || 1 1/2 cup || 1/2 cup ||
 * Tuesday || 2 1/2 cups || 1 cup ||

**Discussion:**

When I first started my bird project all the birdseed was being eaten in one day, which had me really suspicious. So, I added a bit of chili pepper to try and decrease the squirrels and increase the birds. However, I later realized that squirrels aren't actually affected by how much chili pepper was in it, because chili pepper isn't even that spicy. So, I did some research, on which certain recipes prevent squirrels, and I made my own recipe. Now, squirrels don't come to my feeders and birds do. I think don't think that the bird's feeder preference actually took a toll on how much bird seed was left over. Maybe how sturdy the feeders were would make a difference on how much feed was left over. During rainy days there was probably bird seed that was run out of the bowl feeder, but not the tube feeder. There were a lot of factors to take into consideration. The main part that didn't work was how I didn't get a lot research. Like I said above, the chili pepper powder didn't really work to prevent the squirrels, so when I finally got the correct recipe there wasn't even a week left. That's the only part of the experiment that I wish I had done more research on earlier.

**Bibliography:**

"All About Birds." //Bird Feeders, Birding Basics //. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2013.

"SQUIRREL-PROOF BIRD SEED." //Carolina HeartStrings RSS //. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2013.