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PROCEDURES FOR DATA GATHERING FOR SEED PREFERENCE:

The Kansas Winter Bird Feeder survey is a cooperative effort to census winter birds at feeders throughout Kansas. The data are gathered by hundreds of volunteers at homes, schools and from OWLS sites across the State. This guided research protocol follows up on the survey work with a research question. The focus is to determine if there are seed preferences among various species of birds. The methods and number of steps used in gathering scientific knowledge may vary from one investigator to the next, but scientific methods usually involve the alternation of two types of activities, the observational and the explanatory. So far we have been making observations about birds at our feeders during the survey work. We have not yet participated in the explanatory part of science. This experiment was set up to test a hypothesis (an explanation);

H0: There is no measurable relationship between the type of seed put out and the species of birds observed at the feeder.

H1: There is a measurable relationship between the type of seed put out and the species of birds observed at the feeder.

Participants should watch their feeders on several consecutive days between November and March of each year. Enter your data on this site. PROCEDURES FOR DATA GATHERING:

Set up several feeders with only one type of seed in it. Use at least 3 of the following seed types in different feeders. Black Sunflower (only), Fruit, Peanuts, Cracked Sunflower, Thistle, Millet (only), Suet, Corn, Safflower. Make sure that your feeders are far enough apart to tell which feeder the birds are taking seed from.
Observe your feeder carefully. Use the data form in the Data Entry Area to record the birds you see. Record each seed type as a separate record.

In the space provided for each seed type, list the highest number of each species that you see together at any one time. For example, if you see 10 Juncos at 9:00 a.m., and 11 Juncos at 12:00, and 7 Juncos at 4:00p.m., the number you should record is 11. When males and females can be distinguished (cardinals, downy woodpecker, etc.) recorded the combined total. This means if you see 3 male cardinals at 11:00 a.m. then 1 male and 2 females, at 2:00 p.m., record 5 cardinals - - the highest count for the males and highest count for the females combined.

Count and record only the birds that you see at each individual feeder, under your feeder, or in the trees immediately around each of your feeders.

Do not count birds which fly past your house and which don't use your feeding area. We want information only about birds influenced by the type of seed in each of your feeders. If you cannot get an exact count, record your best estimate. An honest estimate is more useful than "too many to count".

Please print the form in the data submission area and fill it out carefully. Use this form to enter your data online in the Data Entry Area.

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