Today's intense public interest in wild bird feeding is a fairly recent phenomena. Although man has undoubtedly placed unneeded foods out for wild birds for many, many years, it is only recently that products specifically developed for wild birds have been made widely available.
The Wild Bird Centers of America, Inc. is proud to be in the forefront of wild bird feeding research since its inception in 1985. Our company's support of pioneering wild bird feeding research has been the most vigorous in the industry in order to provide our customers with the most effective, successful wild bird feeding experience possible. In our view, understanding the factors that contribute to a highly successful feeding experience for our customers is our highest research priority.
Dr. Aelred Geis, the Wild Bird Centers of America's first Director of Research, authored the famous scientific study of wild bird seed preferences, a pioneering study that profoundly affected the wild bird feeding hobby (See "Feeding Preferences of Wild Birds at Feeders"). Dr. Geis' work laid the foundation for a more comprehensive study launched in 2005 and continuing through 2008.
This seminal study, "Seed & Feeder Preferences of Wild Birds in the USA and Canada" (better known as PROJECT WILDBIRD1), is an unprecedented three-year investigation into the feeding habits of wild birds across the United States and Canada. Comprehensive research data generated by the study will provide invaluable insight and guidelines for consumers regarding wild bird seed preferences and feeder-type preferences during all seasons of the year in most geographic regions of the USA and Canada.
This scientific effort is led and coordinated by the Wild Bird Centers of America and the WBFI Research Foundation. Dr. David Horn, Director of Research for Wild Bird Centers of America serves as Principle Investigator. George Petrides, Sr., President and Founder of Wild Bird Centers, serves as Project Leader.
Dr. David Horn is nationally known for conducting pioneering research leading to a better understanding of common wild bird feeding situations encountered by our customers. This spring, under Dr. Horn's direction, Wild Bird Centers is proud to sponsor PROJECT PREVENT COLLISION, an international study designed to learn more about window-bird collisions and how to prevent them.
Dr. Horn earned his Ph.D in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Iowa State University. He is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois where he teaches such courses as Ecology, Environmental Science, and Ornithology.
His work has appeared in publications such as "American Midland Naturalist; Ecological Applications; Iowa Bird Life; Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science; Journal of Wildlife Management; Ohio Journal of Science; Prairie Naturalist; Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of Science; and Wildlife Society Bulletin".
Dr. Horn's recent wild bird feeding research studies have explored such subjects as "Bird Abundance at Feeders Increases with Decreasing Distance to Cover". This information is available in most Wild Bird Center stores in a colorful, easy-to-read poster format.
Current research projects include the "Effects of Bird Feeder Color on Abundance of Birds at Feeders" and "The Effect of Tube Width on Seed Consumption by Birds at Feeders."
