Ever wonder what kind of birdseed birds like best?

Dr. David Horn, Howard L Gravett Professor in Biology and assistant professor of biology, did. Now he and Millikin senior Stacey Shonkwiler are leading Project Wildbird, a three-year, $1 million project studying seed and feeder preferences of wild birds in the United States and Canada.

Professor Horn and Shonkwiler have recruited over 160 citizen scientists for the project from 37 states and three provinces in Canada—and are still looking for participants. So far, they have recorded 411,617 bird visits of 94 species during 22,347 45-minute observations.

“Preliminary results indicate that birds prefer five seed types: black-oil sunflower, fine and medium sunflower chips, Nyjer, and white proso millet,” Professor Horn said.

Millikin newly created Ornithology Research Laboratory on campus has taken on two new projects: developing middle school science curriculum with a focus on bird education and awareness, which is being led by three Millikin students, and Project Prevent Collision, which aims to reduce the number of birds that are killed flying into windows.

Read more details here.