Presentation for WBFI2018
Why does this matter?
Why should the WBFI care?
- These changes are affecting the number and type of birds visiting feeders
- For people who feed birds, some changes are good (e.g. seeing new birds moving into their area), while many changes are not good (no longer seeing some species, seeing diseased birds, seeing invasive birds etc.)
- Negative changes cause some people to stop feeding
Serving young adults who feed wild birds
- PROMOTE
(public Facebook page for sharing posts)
bit.ly/FeederFlock
How the Lab is using audience research to engage new audiences
- JOIN THE GROUP (18-35 year-olds)
bit.ly/JoinFeederFlock
- MORE INFORMATION
bit.ly/FeederFlockInfo
- insights will be shared with collaborators (please get in touch to
tell us if you have promoted the group!)
- almost all (71 interviewees) talk to other people about birds
Questions for the WBFI members from members of The Feeder Flock
- Any suggestions for not attracting invasive species or "pest birds", such as House Sparrows and European Starlings?
- I would love for natural/non-gmo/organic blends to be more readily available.
- Why do you skimp on the ingredients in your suet blocks?
If I buy a suet block that says it has insects in it, I want to be able to see the insect pieces, and yes, meal worms are an insect, but they are not the ONLY insect out there that birds eat.
Focus group interests
- Is there a nut and berry blend that includes berries that birds normally eat? Ones that us humans may not find palatable? Like juniper berries, holly, dogwood, service berries, elderberries, and viburnums?
- share their photos, videos or stories
bit.ly/FeederFlock
- view photos or videos of birds other people see
- scientific news/information about feeder birds
- opportunities to ask questions to the group
- feeder bird humor
Special note:
*Most frequent dislike = time commitment (12 comments)
*Most frequent drawback = time commitment (14 comments)
- 88.9% interested in sharing observations of feeder birds with the Lab
Like/enjoy most
Dislike/enjoy least
This presentation is for WBFI Members ONLY.
As this work is currently under review,
please do NOT share beyond WBFI members.
Thank you.
- motivations for & attitudes towards feeding wild birds
- motivations and attitudes towards Project FeederWatch
- personal social networks for communication about birds
- 80.6% said they feed year-round
- K-12 market and "over 50s" are well-served
- In 2016, ~ 15M aged 16-44 years fed wild birds at home (USFWS data)
- potential to expand engagement
We need to better understand people's motivations and attitudes towards bird feeding
Research interests
Learning more about
- people who feed wild birds
- how we can engage more people in citizen science
Victoria (Vicki) Martin, Rose Postdoctoral Research Associate
Broadening the reach of citizen science
One-on-one discussions
- most (70.8%) speak with > 3 individuals
- usually close relations (parents/partner)
- many individuals do not talk to each other
Age
Age
Count
- Mean = 35.60 years
- SD = 9.43
Years
WBFI partners
Preferred bird discussion groups
% of all comments
Count
Theme
52
30
22
10
32
146
35.6%
20.5%
15.1%
6.8%
21.9%
100.0%
Observing [seeing/hearing/watching]
Diversity of birds [seeing variety/new/different birds]
Personal benefits [joy/makes me happy/fun/relax]
Social connections [sharing experience with others]
Other
TOTAL
- Monitoring bird populations (through Project FeederWatch) is essential
to enable us to detect these changes (the more people who monitor feeder birds, the more quickly and easily we can gather information to understand what is changing)
% of all comments
Theme
Count
25.6%
22.1%
14.0%
5.8%
5.8%
26.8%
100.0%
22
19
12
5
5
23
86
Feeder/feeder site management [cleaning/refilling]
Pests [squirrels/rats/bears etc.]
Cost [buying seeds etc.]
Health impacts [negative impacts on bird health]
Feeding concerns [what type/quality of feed]
Other
TOTAL
*5 people said there is nothing they dislike
Want more people/groups to talk to about birds?
- 49 (68.1%) said yes!
- young adults (18-50 years old) less engaged
35
24.3%
Other
144
100.0%
TOTAL
23
16.0%
Playing a role in science..........
“I always wanted to help science”, “being part of the study would be cool”
Interview Themes
What do you see as the benefits/good things that would come from participating in Project FeederWatch?
Would you help, please?
12
8.3%
Gives purpose..........................
“gives you a reason to look at birds regularly”, “it would add an element of purpose to my hobby”
FeederWatch: Motivations & attitudes
Project FeederWatch
Gender
Males 23.6%
Females 76.4%
- Females (N = 55)
- Males (N = 17)
- All birds are currently experiencing change
(e.g. changes in habitat ( such as urbanization, land use change, environmental degradation), feeder provision, temperature ranges, environmental health, etc.)
13
12.5%
Gives purpose.....................
“gives me more reason to watch birds”, “gives me a goal”
What would you like or enjoy most about participating in Project FeederWatch?
Drawbacks
Recruitment
via Facebook (Pennington)
How can we engage new audiences?
% of all comments
Count
57
39.6%
Good for research/science......
“contributes to science, because science can't be everywhere”
Social networks for bird discussions
Talking about birds
- With this information, we can communicate what is happening to help people continue best practice feeding that brings benefits for birds & people
17
11.8%
Learning..................................
“I need to learn more about bird ID”, “I would learn more about migration"
Who they want to talk to
- their own age group (N = 18, 25.0%)
- more localized groups (N = 18, 25.0%)
- combined interests (N = 7, 9.7%)
- knowledgeable people/experts (N = 5, 6.9%)
% of all comments
Theme
Count
17
15
14
9
7
5
19
86
19.8%
17.4%
16.3%
10.5%
8.1%
5.8%
22.2%
100.0%
Dependency [birds become dependent]
Pests [rats, squirrels, insects]
Maintenance [maintaining/cleaning]
Predators [hawks, cats]
Attracts undesirable birds [invasive/bully birds]
Bird disease [can spread diseases]
Other
TOTAL
*19 people were unsure or said there are none
How they want to connect
- online only (N = 18)
- in person only (N = 18)
- both online and in person (N = 16)
% of all comments
Count
Theme
58
26
14
13
34
145
40.0%
17.9%
9.7%
9.0%
23.5%
100.0%
Help birds [helps them/esp. in winter/urban habitat]
Personal benefits [joy/fun/relaxing]
Experience nature [brings nature to me]
Sharing with and educating others
Other
TOTAL
*1 person was not sure
Location of interviewees
Screening survey (Quotas for age, region, geog. area)
v.martin@cornell.edu
Interview
took place online or by phone
Benefits
High school 8.3%
Education
Some
college 29.2%
- College degree (N = 45)
- Some college (N = 21)
- High school (N = 6)
College 62.5%
Motivations & attitudes
towards feeding wild birds
Demographics
% of all comments
Count
24
23.1%
The activity.........................
“doing the bird count and tally”, “entering data"
Interviews
- October 2017
- 72 online/phone interviews
- 18-50 year olds
- people who feed wild birds
- recruited from across U.S.
- Purpose: formative
27
26.0%
Other
104
100.0%
TOTAL
Group discussions
- 68.1% are are in "discussion groups"
(mostly passive social media)
If eligible, booked interview time & method
20
19.2%
Personal benefits................
“it would make feeding birds more fun and interesting”
20
19.2%
Contributing to science.....
“being able to help science”, “contributing to research”