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Meet the scientists working with PROJECT WILDBIRD!

Project Coordinator - Dr. David J. Horn (dave@projectwildbird.org)
Dr. Horn serves as the Howard L. Gravett Endowed Chair in Biology at Millikin University. He received his B.A. in Biology from Hiram College, an M.S. in Biological Science from the University of Mississippi, and a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Iowa State University. He was an Assistant Professor of Biology at Aurora University for five years before joining the faculty at Millikin University as an Assistant Professor. His research interests include how habitat loss and fragmentation have impacted grassland, wetland and forest bird populations, the impact of wind turbines, television towers, and windows on bird populations, and ways to enhance the bird feeding experience. Dr. Horn is in charge of the scientific aspects of PROJECT WILDBIRD.

Assistant Project Coordinator - Stacey Shonkwiler (stacey@projectwildbird.org)
Stacey is a senior at Millikin University. She is a biology and secondary education major who plans to teach high school biology upon graduation. Stacey oversees the day to day operations of PROJECT WILDBIRD including recruitment of citizen scientists, and responding to the needs of current participants.

December 2006 Update: The data we are receiving from the Citizen Scientists is already leading to new information on backyard bird feeding. Click here for the PDF file contributed by Wild Bird Centers of America that provides an overview of some of the Year 1 preliminary results.

Experimental Citizen Scientists
We are accepting new Experimental Citizen Scientists from all contiguous US states and Canadian provinces. The growth in the number of individuals actively gathering data under the Experimental protocol during each solstice has been exponential:

Winter 2006: 3 Experimental Citizen Scientists
Spring 2006: 9 Experimental Citizen Scientists
Summer 2006: 18 Experimental Citizen Scientists
Fall 2006: 51 Experimental Citizen Scientists
Winter 2007: 71 Experimental Citizen Scientists
Spring 2007: 128 Experimental Citizen Scientists
Summer 2007: 128 Experimental Citizen Scientists

Click here to go to the information on our Experimental Citizen Scientist program.

The cumulative information from the Summer 2007 season from the Experimental Citizen Scientists reporting information into PROJECT WILDBIRD includes:

Top 20 birds recorded by Citizen Scientists in 32 US states and 2 Canadian provinces are:

House Sparrow - 76,705 observed
American Goldfinch - 53,476 observed
House Finch - 49,661 observed
Northern Cardinal - 11,578 observed
Brown-headed Cowbird - 11,151 observed
Black-capped Chickadee - 10,646 observed
Common Grackle - 6,295 observed
Purple Finch - 5,510 observed
Pine Siskin - 5,435 observed (Western species)
Mourning Dove - 5,403 observed
Dark-eyed Junco - 5,269 observed
Red-winged Blackbird - 5,084 observed
Tufted Titmouse - 4,458 observed
Carolina Chickadee - 4,403 observed
Chipping Sparrow - 3,373 observed
White-breasted Nuthatch - 2,855 observed
Song Sparrow - 2,696 observed
White-crowned Sparrow - 2,091 observed
Cassin's Finch - 1,570 observed (Western species)
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1,538 observed

The PROJECT WILDBIRD database now contains in excess of 275,000 recorded observations of birds at bird feeders.

Observational Citizen Scientists
Observers are accepted from all US States and Canadian Provinces. Click here to go to the information on our Observational Citizen Scientist program.

Here are some interesting results reported at the WBFI Annual Meeting:

At the end of summer 2006, 4,825 birds of 36 species were recorded during 3,324 5-minute observations at feeders.

The 10 most abundant species from most to least number of observations were:

House Finch
American Goldfinch
Black-capped Chickadee
House Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Tufted Titmouse
Mourning Dove
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
Carolina Chickadee

In addition, 274 Observational Citizen Scientists completed the PROJECT WILDBIRD attitudinal questionnaire. A few highlights from the questionnaire were presented at the WBFI Annual Meeting on Saturday, November 11, 2006 and include:

Why do you feed birds? 83% responded hobby/fun.
What could make your bird feeding experience better? 66% replied attracting more species of birds.
What features are most important to you in the feeders you choose? 85% replied that birds use the feeders.
What features are most important to you in the seed you choose? 85% replied that birds eat the seed.
57% of the participants told us they fill their feeders weekly; 33% fill their feeders daily.

Grants received by the WBFI Research Foundation during 2006:
National Sunflower Association - $10,000
Kaytee Avian Foundation - $12,500

During 2007:
Kaytee Avian Foundation - $7,500