Questionnaire: ‘ 
     
    
   
   
    
     1. How many years have you been feeding birds? 
     
    

    
     2. what kinds of feed do you use? 
     
    

    
     3. What are your most common birds? 
     
    

    
     4. Is there a change in the species that visit your feeders? 
     
    

    
     5. Have you noticed an increase or decline in the numbers and/or species 
     
     this winter. 
     
    

    
     6. If so, what birds are in decline? 
     
    

    
     7. If there is a decline, in your opinion, what is the cause? 
     
    
   
   
    
     Survey Results: 
     
    

    
     From the seventy-four surveys we received, the average number of years that the 
     
     bird watchers fed birds at backyard feeders was 12.7 years. The longest someone had 
     
     been feeding birds that answered our survey was forty-four years. 
     
    

    
     The food most commonly used at backyard feeders was sunflower seed (56), suet 
     
     (35), niger and mixed seed (27) and cracked corn (16). The most common birds that 
     
     visit these feeders regularly are Blue Jay (61), chickadees (55), sparrows (28), 
     
     starlings (24), and woodpeckers and gold finches (21). 
     
    

    
     Forty-two (42) people out of the 74 surveys 
     
     said there was a change in the species of birds 
     
     visiting backyard feeders. Twenty-eight (28) 
     
     people said there was no change in the species of 
     
     birds visiting backyard feeders on Prince Edward 
     
     Island. Sixty-two (62) of the respondents felt 
     
     there was a decrease in the numbers of birds 
     
     visiting backyard feeders on Prince Edward Island. 
     
     Only three (3) people said there was an increase 
     
     and nine (9) said it's about the same. The survey 
     
     results read that finches (28) are declining the 
     
     most, grosbeaks (23) are second and sparrows (14) 
     
     are third in order of decline. 
     
    

    
     The largest percentage of the people who answered our survey were not sure of 
     
     the cause (24). Eighteen (18) of the people said that they thought it was the snow 
     
     cover (more food available because of the lack of snow this winter). Fifteen people 
     
     said it is pesticides. Other reasons given were less natural food, habitat 
     
     destruction, more feeders, predation and lots of natural food. One interesting 
     
     thought mentioned was the high winds and the number of hurricanes on the east coast 
     
     this year. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Conclusion: 
     
    

    
     According to our survey, there is a decline in the number of birds at backyard 
     
     feeders. Also, there is a change in the species of birds that will visit backyard 
     
     feeders this year of Prince Edward Island. 
     
    

    
     The cause of the decline is not clear. Our expert opinion points to a lack of 
     
     tree seed and berries this winter although some people who answered our survey said 
     
     there are more tree cones. Lack of snow cover means birds many be getting more 
     
     natural food. ~ 
     
    

    
     In conclusion, we feel that the numbers of feeder birds on P.E.I. would have to 
     
     be surveyed for several years to know if there really is a noticeable decline. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Editor’s Note: Tyler Fraser and Shane Thompson were grade 9 students at Stonepark 
     
     Intermediate School and conducted this study as their Science Fair Project in the 
     
     spring of 1997. They are to be commended for their thoughtfulness in designing and 
     
     implementing the project as well as their use of the media to encourage people to 
     
     respond to their questionnaire. This article is an excerpt of the major sections of 
     
     their report.